Arlington Police Launch ‘Holiday Retail Crime Crackdown’ – Shoppers Beware

Northern Virginia police are taking tough measures against shoplifting. A “Holiday Retail Theft Detail” will be implemented, according to the Arlington County Police Department, following a notable rise in cases over the previous year.

Although shoplifting is not a new issue, it has gotten worse recently, at least in some areas of the region. In 2023, Arlington County Police received over 1,000 shoplifting incident reports. That figure has increased to around 1,700 so far this year in 2024.

“I believe that through our community outreach initiatives, we’re both witnessing a rise in incidents and improved reporting,” stated Ashley Savage of the Arlington County Police Department.

Consequently, Arlington consumers might observe what law enforcement is referring to as a “Holiday Retail Theft Detail.”

As a result, there will be more patrols, electronic signboards like this one outside Ballston Quarter, and officers interacting with locals and businesses.

“We want individuals to know that they can come enjoy retail shopping in Arlington County while our officers are conducting high visibility patrols as a deterrent for crime and also to make sure that our community feels safe as they’re out doing their holiday shopping this year,” Savage said.

An Arlington Retail Theft Detail was already hard at work on Black Friday, responding to ten shoplifting incidents that resulted in eight arrests while people were out shopping.

“The effort will continue through the month of December,” Savage says FOX 5. There will also be more patrols in and around Arlington’s Pentagon City Metro station.