Chino police say dedicated retail-theft team, Measure V funding cut shoplifting after 2024 spike

Chief Kevin Minson reported to the Chino City Council on Jan. 21 that a retail‑theft team created in June 2024, partially funded by Measure V, has coincided with a decline in shoplifting in the city.

The team—two specially trained investigators, identified in the presentation as Corporal Jete and Officer Cremona—was assigned after the department recorded a 53% increase in retail theft in 2023 and a further increase during the first five months of 2024. Minson said the city added four police positions with council approval; two were assigned to the retail‑theft team.

Minson said Chino’s retail‑theft reports fell about 10% from June through December 2024 and that the city finished the year with a 5% reduction overall. He credited departmentwide enforcement during the holidays for a 20% reduction in retail theft during that season. "We took 114 reported incidents of retail theft and investigated them; out of them, we made 74 arrests," Minson told the council, noting a 65% clearance rate by arrest for those holiday investigations.

Minson described several notable cases: a multi‑store Burlington ring that stole about $30,000 by filling suitcases and was arrested in Moreno Valley, where detectives recovered stolen merchandise and seized firearms on a search warrant; and a multi‑jurisdictional series of Ulta store thefts in which five suspects stole more than $100,000 across several counties and charges were added after identification. He said the retail‑theft team made 44 arrests from June through December 2024, served 24 search warrants and recovered more than $27,000 in stolen property; only four of the arrestees were Chino residents.

Minson attributed the results to partnerships with retailers, loss‑prevention staff and other agencies, public messaging and targeted overtime patrols. He said the team also developed retail outreach to educate businesses about new tools available under recent state changes to retail‑theft law, including restraining orders for loss‑prevention agents.

Council members praised the unit. Councilmember Comstock called the report "exceptional work" and said it reassured shoppers and business owners. Councilmember Lucio recommended highlighting the outcome in business‑recruitment materials. Mayor Pro Tem Burton and other council members urged continued partnership with retail stakeholders and thanked the officers by name.

Minson closed by describing planned follow‑up: a meeting with retail stores to explain recent legal changes and to educate loss‑prevention staff on restraining orders and other tools, plus ongoing outreach and enforcement.

Ending: The council did not take an action item on the report; Minson said staff would continue enforcement, business outreach and periodic reporting to council.