Authorities launch 'Operation Christmas Presence' to keep holiday shoppers safe

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- With Thanksgiving interruption successful afloat effect and Christmas astir the corner, present is the clip erstwhile stores volition beryllium flooded with shoppers.

It's besides a engaged clip for instrumentality enforcement agencies, which are expanding the fig of officers connected the close.

"Our shared ngo is simple. To support our communities truthful radical tin bask the holidays without fear," said Fresno County Assistant Sheriff Ryan Hushaw.

On Wednesday morning, the Fresno Police Department, Fresno County Sheriff's Office, and California Highway Patrol stood broadside by broadside to denote Operation Christmas Presence.

Officers from each bureau successful azygous and undercover volition beryllium patrolling engaged buying malls and centers for the adjacent respective weeks.

"It doesn't substance wherever you unrecorded successful Fresno, whether you question to Fashion Fair, Rivepark, oregon different buying country successful different portion of Fresno, you merit to beryllium harmless during this buying season, and we are going to marque that happen," said Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto.

Chief Mindy Casto says shoplifting crimes person decreased, which she believes is partially acknowledgment to Proposition 36.

The measurement passed a twelvemonth agone and allows cause possession and petty theft to beryllium charged differently.

"Especially for repetition offenders, and that has been a large instrumentality successful deterrence," said Casto "Our theft has decreased 24% successful the metropolis of Fresno and that includes shoplifts."

A tool, Assistant Sheriff Ryan Hushaw says, they person nary occupation utilizing to the afloat extent.

"If you take to prey connected others during this vacation season, we volition travel aft you and we volition marque definite you look the consequences of your actions," said Hushaw.

Authorities are besides asking you to bash your part.

"Safety is simply a shared responsibility. We inquire our assemblage to enactment alert. Think astir buying with a friend, unafraid valuables, and study thing that seems suspicious," said CHP Captain Ian Holguin.

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