GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- In an effort to deter theft in Green Bay, the Green Bay Police Department and Green Bay Lions club have made anti-theft reminders.
The reminders are in the form of a cutout of Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith.
The police department has enlisted local vendor, ColorTech to create “Chief Smith Anti-Theft cut-outs”. These, life-sized, free standing cut outs feature Chief Smith and an anti-theft message.
“Give everybody a visual when they walk in a store that says ‘hey you know what, the police is here. They recognize that thievery is a problem, and we’re here to do something about it.”
The Green Bay Lions Club donated the money to the Green Bay Police Department to make the purchase.
The police department is ready to deploy 10 of these cut-outs to local businesses.
Police Chief Andrew Smith says it is another method in their efforts to bring the theft numbers down.
“There’s a zero-tolerance policy in Green Bay for shoplifting. We will catch you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. No longer is it just a ticket at the store and you’re on your way. You’re going to be put in the back of a police car, you’re going to be driven down to the police station, and you’re going to be vigorously prosecuted.”
The Police Department will control the signs, and will move them as they see fit.
Police records show the number of theft incidents have dropped from last year.
Since the beginning of the year, 432 theft incidents have been reported in Green Bay, that is down from 516 theft incidents in 2016.
