At least seven people have been arrested on alleged retail theft charges in Lemon Grove, authorities reported Friday.
On Wednesday, deputies from the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s Substation’s Community Oriented Policing and Problem-Solving team ran a retail theft operation at multiple businesses throughout the city.
During the eight-hour operation, deputies made seven arrests, which included six misdemeanor and one felony arrest, averaging around one arrest per hour, according to a report from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
“Retail theft remains a significant and ongoing challenge in Lemon Grove, affecting local businesses and the community at large,” the agency said in a statement.
According to the report, sheriff’s officials said they are committed to confronting the issue and sent a message to future criminals stating “You can’t steal from Lemon Grove anymore!”
The names and ages of the suspects involved have not yet been released. The businesses that were targeted and the alleged stolen merchandise were unclear.
The operation was a collaborative effort between COPPS deputies, patrol deputies, detectives and businesses in Lemon Grove.
–City News Service
