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San Ramon, CA--In a move against the growing menace of organized retail theft, the San Ramon Police Department has been awarded a grant exceeding $5.6 million, as revealed by Chief Denton Carlson on Friday.

[Image via Patch]

“With the rise in incidents of organized retail theft in recent years, we recognized the urgent need to implement targeted measures to mitigate the impact of organized retail theft within San Ramon,” Carlson shared in a letter on the department’s social media.

A notable incident underscoring this urgency was the daylight-armed heist at Heller Jewelers in City Center Bishop Ranch. At least seven individuals, their faces concealed, stormed the establishment wielding firearms and hammers, getting away with jewelry valued over $1 million. Currently, five individuals linked to this crime are under federal prosecution.

The grant, amounting to $5,616,613, sourced from the State of California Board of State Community and Corrections Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program, will be channeled into several pivotal areas, as outlined by Carlson:

• Formation of a specialized unit dedicated to curbing and preempting organized retail theft.
• Upgrades to the city's camera infrastructure, incorporating more automated license plate detectors and strategic cameras.
• Augmentation of the current drone initiative and the launch of a 'Drone as a First Responder' system to enhance response efficiency and boost officer's on-ground awareness.
• Amplified community outreach to bolster educational endeavors centered on organized retail theft deterrence.
• Enhanced data processing and analytical tools to refine the department’s approach to organized retail theft interception and prevention.

Carlson thanked Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce, the San Ramon Valley Islamic Center, and Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton for their endorsement letters backing the grant request.