#ICYMI: A roundup of notable incidents involving the California Highway Patrol (CHP) this past week, including crime reduction efforts in San Francisco, big results in the ongoing East Bay crime suppression operation, uncovering the great Lego heist, law enforcement collaboration disrupting organized retail crime in Alameda County, and CHP Golden Gate Operations makes its 25th rescue in Lake County.
The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each announcement. Click on the headlines to access accompanying assets that are available for download.
1. CHP AND LOCAL EFFORTS IN SAN FRANCISCO CONTINUE TO YIELD POSITIVE RESULTS
The CHP has seized more than 42 pounds of fentanyl — more than 9.6 million lethal doses of the drug — since May 1, 2023, when Governor Gavin Newsom announced the state’s joint public safety partnership with the City of San Francisco. In addition to the seizure of fentanyl, the Governor’s Office highlighted additional results from the ongoing operation, including nearly 500 arrests for illegal activity and the recovery of 15 crime-linked guns as part of its operation in San Francisco.
Citywide, in the first quarter of 2024 (January 1 – March 31), property crime is down 32% and violent crime is down 14% compared to the first quarter of 2023, according to local San Francisco police data.
2. CHP RECOVERS MORE THAN 400 STOLEN VEHICLES IN OAKLAND AND THE EAST BAY
The CHP has recovered 414 stolen vehicles, made 181 arrests, and seized over 30 crime-linked firearms in the East Bay as part of undercover sting operations and law enforcement surges over the past eight weeks. The results of the CHP’s continued collaboration with its law enforcement partners in Oakland and throughout the East Bay was highlighted in a press release issued by the Governor’s Office and is part the ongoing effort to improve public safety. The CHP continues undercover operations and uniformed patrol and coordinates with allied local law enforcement agencies.
The CHP's Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) conducted a search on April 9 at various locations in Los Angeles and Orange Counties to catch four suspects accused of stealing from stores like Target, Home Depot, and Lowe's. During the search, approximately
$300,000 worth of Lego sets were recovered. The suspects were arrested and charged with organized retail theft, grand theft, and conspiracy.
A CHP ORCTF investigation led to a major weapons seizure last month in Oakland, along with the recovery of hundreds of stolen electronic devices. CHP investigators, in collaboration with the Alameda County Sheriff’s, uncovered a fencing operation linked to a robbery at a Target store in Alameda County. On March 26, a search in Oakland resulted in seizing more than 500 stolen electronic devices, 10 firearms, and ammunition. As a result, a suspect was arrested on felony retail theft and weapons charges.
The CHP’s Golden Gate Division helicopter crew rescued its 25th person this year on April 10. The CHP’s H-30 responded with firefighters from Lake County to a report of an injured hiker on Redbud Trail near Clear Lake. The crew located the injured woman and deployed a flight officer/paramedic to her location, where she was placed into a rescue harness. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service and Security.
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