GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The Green Bay Police Department is cracking down on the biggest crime problem in the city, retail theft.
Captain Kevin Warych says now if you get arrested for petty theft, you no longer just get a citation and let go.
You will be taken to the station, photographed, fingerprinted and left to find your way home.
“We started a retail theft task force which includes several community stakeholders. That includes businesses that were experiencing a lot of retail theft and businesses that were doing really good preventing them.”
The new procedure was implemented over the last couple of months by Chief Andrew Smith.
Warych says big box retail stores are a common target of criminals.
“Often times we see electronics, cosmetics, clothing, and food…a lot of small stuff that can be carried and concealed as a person would leave the store.”
Petty theft is defined as anything stolen worth $500 dollars or less; anything above $500 is a felony.
Officials say a lot of times they see people steal to fuel some sort of habit or addiction.
Officers hope the new procedure will deter criminals from committing future crimes.
