HAGERSTOWN – The Hagerstown Police Department has concluded its “Operation Blue Light Special” initiative which was a year-long investigation targeting the problem of retail theft, police reported.
Detectives and uniformed patrol officers conducted surveillance at retail stores, as well as on known offenders, as part of the investigation. As a result, 91 individuals were arrested or had charges filed against them. The charges included misdemeanor theft, felony theft, vehicle theft, sale and possession of controlled dangerous substances and possession of firearms, police reported.
Many of the individuals were arrested or charged on multiple occasions. Some of the arrests were for individuals with unrelated warrants, according to police.
Officers and detectives also recovered six stolen vehicles, nine handguns, seized an undetermined amount of controlled dangerous substances, identified seven drug trafficking organizations and found 12 locations where stolen property was being sold, police said. These locations included private residences as well as businesses that included restaurants, barbershops, convenience stores and social clubs.
The objectives of the investigation were to identify repeat offenders who commit retail thefts from multiple stores, identify where the stolen property was being sold and ultimately identify the drug networks and organizations that are supplying controlled dangerous substances to those individuals who are committing the thefts, police said. The initiative highlights the nationwide problem of retail theft and how it correlates with drug trafficking and violent crime.
The investigation was partly funded under the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network Initiative, which is part of the Governor’s Office Crime Prevention and Policy Program. The program focuses on identifying, disrupting and dismantling gangs and violent criminal networks involved in the distribution of illegal drugs, the use of firearms in crimes of violence, human trafficking or other inherently violent criminal enterprises, through enforcement, prevention, intervention and information sharing.
It seeks to reduce violent crime by facilitating the formation of information technology-enabled partnerships that lead to the improved investigation and prosecution of violent criminals and their networks.
The Hagerstown Police Department would like to recognize and thank the following retailers for their cooperation with the initiative – Lowe’s, Home Depot, Weis, Martin’s, Walmart, Kohl’s, Target, JCPenney and Belk.
