California sheriff slams Target for allowing brazen thieves to run rampant and banning cops from handcuffing them in the store

The targeting is allowing shoplifters to run rampant and hampering law enforcement efforts to tackle crime, a California sheriff claims as he targeted the well-known retailer.

It comes as the retailer announced just weeks ago it was closing nine stores because high theft rates were making staff and customers feel unsafe – and that the company had lost a further $500 million to crime this year.

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper shared his outrage last week on to grab.

He said Target told its officers not to arrest anyone in the store because they didn’t want “negative press” and the staff did nothing when shoplifting occurred.

“We don’t tell big retailers how to do their jobs, and they shouldn’t tell us how to do ours,” Cooper said.

“We recently tried to help Target. Our detectives and property crimes sergeant have been contacted multiple times by Target to assist them with shoplifters, most of whom were known to be transient,” the sheriff alleged.

But when he met with the head of regional security, he said he was told they “couldn’t contact suspects in the store; we couldn’t handcuff suspects in the store; and when we arrested someone, they wanted us to handle him outside… behind the store… in the rain.”

“We were told they didn’t want to create a scene in the store and have people film it and put it on social media,” Cooper added.

‘They didn’t want negative press. Unbelievable.’

Cooper described an incident at Target where “officers observed a lady on camera bringing in her own shopping bags, going to the body wash isle and grabbing some native body washes. She then went to customer service and sent it back!’

He said: ‘Target chose to do nothing and just let it happen.’

He accused the chain of choosing to lock up products and raise prices instead of tackling crime. He said: ‘Yet somehow locking up deodorant and raising prices on everyday items we need to survive is their best answer.’

Cooper was much more complimentary about rival chain Safeway’s handling of shoplifting, writing on X on Sunday: “KUDOS to Safeway and the California Grocers Association (CGA) for remaining active partners in the fight against shoplifting.

Detectives worked with Safeway management to identify a number of stores where the most thefts occur. Detectives set up a shoplifting operation, in which Safeway loss prevention agents identified theft suspects, who were then taken into custody by detectives and issued misdemeanor citations (under current law).

“Some major retailers, like Safeway and the CGA, continue to help in the fight to keep their communities and customers safe. It’s amazing to see what can happen when companies work together with law enforcement.”

DailyMail.com contacted Target for comment.

Cooper’s anger comes amid a wave of shoplifting at Target, which has said it will lose $500 million more this year than last year due to thefts.

The chain has even resorted to locking down underwear from a brand ironically called “Pair of Thieves” in an effort to combat rampant shoplifting.

Photos show the underwear behind plastic cases under lock and key at Target’s White Plains store in New York. Similar measures can be seen at other facilities in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Orange County, California.

In September, the chain announced it was closing nine stores across the country, citing an increase in crime and other safety concerns.

The company closed locations in New York City, Seattle, San Francisco and Portland, saying that “theft and organized retail crime threaten the safety of our team and our guests.”

They said: ‘We cannot continue to operate these stores because theft and organized retail crime threaten the safety of our team and guests and contribute to unsustainable business performance.

“We know our stores play an important role in their communities, but we can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for everyone.”

Some thefts at Target have been caught on camera and have become viral videos. In many cases, suspects can be seen daringly looting from stores or fighting with police.

In August, dramatic footage captured how a Target shoplifter was caught by police after stealing a TV, only to return moments later to steal a second one.

Store employees detained a police officer after the man brazenly returned after the first theft. The officer waited outside with security and approached the man as he left the store with the second 65 inch LG TV.

Bodycam footage shows the officer sprinting after the man with the taser drawn and attacking him in the parking lot.

Dashcam footage from the arresting officer’s car shows the two wrestling on the ground outside the store.

After two minutes, backup arrived on scene to assist the officer with the arrest.