Palo Alto Gets $5.2M To Combat Organized Retail Theft

PALO ALTO, CA — The Palo Alto Police Department disclosed this week it will receive nearly $5.2 million from state coffers to boost its efforts against organized retail theft.

This is part of California's $270 million statewide effort announced by the Board of State and Community Corrections on Thursday, police said in a news release.

The $5,176,812 grant will boost patrols in high-density retail areas like the Stanford Shopping Center and downtown Palo Alto for the next three years, according to police.

"Some of these extra patrols will come in the form of undercover operations. Officers will also be able to devote more resources towards combatting auto theft, as organized retail theft suspects often use stolen vehicles while committing their crimes," Palo Alto police said.

The grant will also allow the Police Department to install new technology that will allow officers to remotely affix a GPS tag to a suspect vehicle, allowing officers to monitor its location if the driver flees from authorities.

"We are grateful for the state's generous support, and we look forward to using the funds to enhance community safety here in Palo Alto," Police Chief Andrew Binder said in a statement. "We are also deeply appreciative of our ongoing partnership with our retail community and the support we received from the Chamber of Commerce, the Stanford Shopping Center, and District Attorney Rosen."

Palo Alto police will ask the city council's authorization to receive the grant and to proceed with the purchase of the patrol car technology in the coming weeks, officers said.

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