Balderas’ office did not provide statistics on how much merchandise has been reported stolen.
A Journal news report in May quoted local police as saying shoplifters have become more brazen in recent years and are more likely to be armed or violent.
In terms of “organized retail crime,” Balderas said his office has convicted pawn shop employees who were directing people to steal items so they could sell them at the store. He also cited the case of a business owner who had rented out a piece of equipment only to learn it was being sold to a third party at a much lower cost.