As a retail employee I have noticed crimes in Stockton have gone up increasingly over the years I have been working, especially when it comes to shoplifting and theft.
Cases for shoplifting/theft have gone up by nearly 25 percent in just a span of two years. The number of recorded cases was 1,250 in 2021, then shot up to 1,600 in 2023 according to Stockton Police Department.
Officer David Scott, one of the Public Information Officers with the Stockton Police provided information about these ongoing incidents.
“Stockton Police has continued to build relationships with businesses to support and address their needs,” said Scott.
Scott noted examples of how the department has built relationships with businesses around the city to help prevent owners from being targeted.
“Some examples are organized retail theft missions, special checks that are set up to provide extra patrols, or area checks to provide high visibility. This task is usually headed by our Strategic Community Officers in the Strategic Operations Section. They also participate in the Business Watch program along with members of our Crime Prevention Team who lead the Business Watch Program,” said Scott.
Scott also recommends business owners to learn more about Stockton PD’s business watch program.
“A Business Watch establishes communication links among various businesses within a specific geographic area such as a plaza, mall, complex, or city block. Each business works with the others to keep the Police Department informed of any activity that could be considered criminal in nature,” said Scott.
Isaac Zarate who is one of my co-workers and also a second-year Delta student said that shoplifters have affected his shopping experience negatively.
“Yes shoplifters have, because shoppers like me and others work for things we need and some people come in and steal it from us and others who need a certain item,” said Zarate. “There should also be more laws created or rules to either scare or eliminate the amount of theft that happens, especially in Stockton,” said Zarate.
Thieves around the city impact me and many employees at retail stores like Estefany Corrales who works at the Stockton Target near campus.
“Shoplifters have affected me because it shows that people do not care and it also throws off the count at work which leads to other customers complaining to us and making our jobs more stressful,” said Corrales.
Many cases of shoplifting occur everyday.
“Thieves come in and steal probably about 3-plus times per day from what I know of but there could be a bit more,” said Corrales.
Not only does it affect employees of retail stores, it also affects the everyday lives of customers, thieves can make shopping feel less safe and more difficult to find the goods that they may need.
Even though I won’t be working at a retail store for much longer since I’m going to school for a better career, it does concern me about the safety of other customers and employees around Stockton quite often.