Tis the season to shop. But sometimes the holiday season can also be known as the shoplifting season. And shoplifting effects everyone! WKTV’s Local News Now had the opportunity to talk to Deputy Chief Donald Tuuri of the Kentwood Police Dept. about a brand new program this year focusing on decreasing the number of retail thefts during this holiday season.
The program is called P.R.I.C.E. (Preventing Retail theft through Initiative, Collaboration & Enforcement). They will be focusing on retail thefts that occur along the 28th Street corridor in the City of Kentwood and will be taking a zero tolerance on retail crimes.
The project started this week, and will continue through Sunday, January 4, 2015. Officers have contacted each retail establishment along the 28th Street corridor to educate our retail community on theft crimes and ways to reduce crime this holiday season.
Extra patrols will be assigned every day along the 28th Street corridor. These patrols will focus on patrolling 28th Street, retail parking lots along 28th Street, and walking through retail businesses located along 28th Street. In addition, they will be assigning Volunteers in Police Service patrols to this area every day to enforce parking laws, including handicap parking violations, fire hydrant violations, and fire lane violations.
The goal in initiating this program is to reduce crime, increase traffic safety and increase service to our community. They intend to help create a positive and safe shopping experience for persons who live in and visit our city this holiday season.
