HAGERSTOWN, MD — The Hagerstown Police Department has charged 91 individuals with crimes related to repeat retail thefts.
Lt. Rebecca Fetchu tells The Panhandle News Network it was part of “Operation Blue Light Special,” a year-long investigation that targeted retail theft in the city related to drug trafficking.
Investigators identified repeat offenders they believe had committed retail thefts from multiple stores and then sought to find out where the stolen property was being sold. This targeting the problem of retail theft. 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 connect some of those thefts to drug networks and organizations they believed were providing controlled substances to the people committing the thefts.
“The initiative highlights the nationwide problem of retail theft and how it correlates with drug trafficking and violent crime,” according to Fetchu.
Detectives and uniformed patrol officers conducted surveillance at retail stores as well as on known offenders as part of the investigation. As a result of the investigation, 91 individuals were arrested or had charges filed against them, including misdemeanor theft, felony theft, vehicle theft, sale and possession of controlled dangerous substances, and possession of firearms.
Fetch says many of the suspects were arrested or charged on multiple occasions.
Officers and detectives also recovered six stolen vehicles, nine handguns, seized an undetermined amount of controlled dangerous substances, identified seven drug trafficking organizations and identified a dozen locations where stolen property was being sold.
“These locations included private residences as well as businesses that included restaurants, barbershops, convenience stores, and social clubs,” Fetchu said..
The investigation was partly funded under the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN) Initiative which is part of the Governor’s Office Crime Prevention and Policy Program. MCIN 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. MCIN 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.
Among those HPD recognized as helping with the investigation:
Lowe’s
Home Depot
Weis
Martin’s
Wal Mart
Kohl’s
Target
JCPenney
Belk
