PROSPER, Texas — Prosper police, with the help of Little Elm, McKinney, and Plano Police Departments, and the Collin County Sheriff's Office, worked together to fight retail theft. They held an operation last week called Santa's Theft Operation Plan which is appropriately named STOP.
Big box stores are set to lose billions because of theft and shoplifting. Often times police reports of theft cases don't come to light for days or weeks after it happen. The STOP operation connects mostly undercover officers and asset managers from the big box stores at the Gates of Prosper.
More than 60 people between police and retail were part of the operation. It ended with nine arrests of shoplifters over six hours last Friday at the Gates of Prosper.
"We're on [the thieves] so quick they don't really have time to react," said Detective Seth Cockerham.
Officers sitting in unmarked cars outside in the parking lot are talking with asset managers inside the big box stores through a walkie-talkie app called Zello.
"We use an app to communicate back and forth real-time hoping they can give us some good descriptors on shoplifters," said Cockerham. "As soon as someone starts to give us a description, we start making our way to that area and wait for them to come out. As soon as they hit that exit door we're on them."
Theft is just one of the charges the thieves are facing. Additional charges, including evading arrest with a vehicle, unlawful use of criminal instrument and possession of a controlled substance along with several criminal trespass warnings, according to a press release from Prosper Police.
The detective told WFAA that thieves are getting smarter. They often use magnets to override the security equipment.
"Some people will use the belly bands. They'll shove shoes and all kinds of things and put their shirt right over it," he said.
The nine arrests helped recover about $4,000 in property. It's a drop in the bucket compared to the billions that are lost every holiday season, but it's a start and a tactic that may throw off unsuspecting thieves.
More of these operations are planned through this holiday season and throughout Collin County.