MENTOR, Ohio — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a previous story.
In an effort to curb retail theft this holiday season, the Mentor Police Department announced that it will be continuing its Retail Theft Deterrence Program.
As a part of the program, plainclothes officers will patrol participating stores and surveil the parking lot in unmarked cars. The program allows officers or any Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) who witnesses a theft to quickly make an arrest.
“We continue to support this program because of the positive effect it has on deterring criminal activity in our retail locations, and making the community a safer place to shop,” Mentor Police Chief Ken Gunsch said in a release.
First launched by a Mentor patrolman who recognized the correlation between theft rings and drug abuse in 2014, the program's success has led to it being used as a model in other departments across the country. The patrolman who developed the program ascertained that "thieves will typically steal high-value items that they can flip quickly to feed their habit."
In a release, Mentor Municipal Court Judge John Trebets called shoplifting a "community-killer." As a part of a concerted effort to get users the help they need while maximizing the sentence for repeat offenders, he has put the following sentencing guidelines in place for such offenses:
- Sentencing on a first offense depends on numerous factors.
- A second offense may result in a six-month sentence. Those arrested can also be charged with trespassing if they’re ever found in the store again.
The release also noted that the City of Mentor is the sixth largest retail destination in the State of Ohio with more than 300 retailers and 175 eateries.
"The retail industry plays an important role in the City’s economy with over $1.9 billion in sales generated annually so keeping shoppers safe is a high priority for Mentor Police," the release reads.