Media

Sheriff’s “ALERT Squad” Now Nation-Wide Model For Fighting Retail Theft

Release Date: January 11, 2006

The efforts of Shelby County Sheriff’s Detectives assigned to the “ALERT (Area Law Enforcement Retailers Team) Squad” say their efforts are being recognized throughout the nation by law enforcement agencies and representatives of major retail stores.

“We started the ALERT Squad in January of 2004 in hopes of working closer with local merchants in the Shelby County area. That concept of meeting with store representatives and sharing information about retail theft cases has now grown beyond our expectations. These officers are to be commended for their efforts,” said Shelby County Sheriff Mark H. Luttrell, Jr.

For years, when deputies were called to arrest shoplifters, the suspects involved were simply issued misdemeanor citations (arrested but released and booked at a later time). Last year, detectives began linking many of those individual shoplifting investigations to crimes involving large-scale criminal networks.

In many instances, shoplifters had been hired by other criminals to steal a particular type of item so it could be sold on the “black market.” As those cases were investigated, retailers were then asked to join the “ALERT Squad” deputies at monthly meetings to discuss shoplifting cases and other theft and retail fraud at their stores.

“This was the first time retailers sat down and routinely talked with one another and with law enforcement officers about the links between certain cases,” added Sheriff Luttrell.

As the ALERT Squad concept grew, a website was developed by Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies for retailers and officers around the country to look at store security camera images and share suspect information regarding retail theft.

At latest count, more than 1,000 retailers and law enforcement agencies have signed on to the network developed by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Information Technology Division.

ALERT Squads have now been set up at various police departments and sheriff’s offices throughout the nation. Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Charlotte and literally hundreds of other cities now have special investigative teams using the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office term, “ALERT Squad.”

This past year the Shelby County Sheriff’s “ALERT Squad” arrested 109 people, seized more than one MILLION in counterfeit merchandise, recovered almost $53,000 in stolen property, recovered $5000 in cash, seized four (4) vehicles and cleared 26 warrants involving people wanted on various charges.

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