Sacramento, California – A coordinated retail theft enforcement effort in South Sacramento led to the arrest of 21 suspects earlier this week, including several individuals who may face felony-level consequences under California’s recently approved Proposition 36.
Detectives from the Sheriff’s Property Crime and Organized Retail Crime Task Force, working alongside Central Division deputies, carried out the focused operation at a Dollar Tree store on Florin Road. Authorities said the location has been hit repeatedly by theft, generating 67 calls for service within a three-month span. Company officials also reported losses nearing 65% during 2025, a level of shrinkage that threatens store stability, employee jobs, and access to affordable goods for nearby residents. The store currently employs 10 workers.
Among those taken into custody were 16 adults and four juveniles. Law enforcement officials noted that several of the adult suspects have prior theft-related histories. Six of the arrested individuals are considered eligible for prosecution under Proposition 36, the voter-approved measure intended to strengthen penalties for repeat theft offenses.
Investigators and community leaders have emphasized the broader consequences tied to persistent retail crime. Beyond immediate financial losses, repeated theft can contribute to store closures, rising prices, and fewer neighborhood services—effects that often fall hardest on communities already facing economic strain.
With voters signaling strong support for stricter accountability through Proposition 36, attention now turns to funding and implementation. Officials argue that full legislative support will be necessary to ensure the law is enforced effectively and that meaningful, lasting change can take hold in neighborhoods most affected by organized and repeat retail theft.