26-089 Updates to CDW for Retail Theft Reporting

Department Notice

San Francisco Police Department

This document is not an official representation of the published policy. To access the official signed policy, please submit a request through our Public Records Request Portal.

26-089
Published: 
Expire: 

The purpose of this notice is to introduce updates recently implemented in Crime Data Warehouse (CDW) regarding Retail Theft Reporting.

The Department requires consistent identification and documentation of retail theft incidents to ensure accurate case assignment and data collection. Members shall comply with the reporting procedures outlined below when completing incident reports in the CDW system.

Retail theft: occurs when merchandise is stolen from a store when it is open for business. 

Examples:

  • A suspect enters a store open for business, conceals merchandise, and passes the registers. An agent for the store ( employee or security guard) confronts the suspect to recover merchandise. The suspect uses force and/or fear on the agent to retain the merchandise and/or escape. This IS a retail theft, specifically an Estes robbery - 211 PC (2nd degree).
  • A suspect enters a store closed for business and steals merchandise. This IS NOT a retail theft, it is a burglary.
  • A suspect enters a store open for business, brandishes a knife at a clerk and steals cash from the register. This IS NOT a retail theft, it is a robbery.

Procedures

*Mandatory* Retail Theft Checkbox (CDW System): Members shall select the "Retail Theft" checkbox when a retail theft incident is being reported.

  • Occurs at a retail establishment during normal business hours; and
  • Involves a theft or attempted theft, including burglary or robbery of store merchandise.
  • Due to the variety of report classifications under which retail theft incidents may fall, this checkbox ensures accurate identification and tracking.

New or Amended "Type of Incident" Titles: Members shall select the appropriate new or amended Titles, when applicable:

  • "Theft, Organized Retail" - applicable for 490.4 PC 
  • "Shoplifting, Force Or Fear Against Agent" - applicable for Estes robbery - 211 PC (2nd degree) 
  • "Theft, Petty, with Prior Conviction(s)" - applicable for 666.1 PC and 666 PC

Addition to "Reported to Bureau": Members shall select ~ "ORC Task Force" when applicable.

POINT OF CONTACT 

For questions, please contact the Organized Retail Crime Task Force [Redacted]

/s/
DERRICK J. LEW
Chief of Police