On 04/07/21, the Whitehall Police Department conducted a theft “blitz” and arrested 21 suspects for theft and additional charges. Whitehall Police define a blitz as a targeted enforcement of a specific crime, a targeted enforcement in a specific area, or both. In this instance, police focused on theft in the area of the Great Eastern Shopping Center, the Town and Country Shopping Center, and the Walmart shopping center located at Collingwood Avenue and East Main Street.
Police collaborated with local businesses to catch shoplifters and other theft related crimes in these areas. Undercover officers, detectives, and uniformed patrol officers were used to saturate the area and provide a coordinated response to incidents. In addition to multiple theft and shoplifting charges, police arrested suspects for drug offenses, an OVI, a stolen car, improper handling of a firearm, falsification, resisting arrest, and several felony warrants. One suspect caught shoplifting had 10 warrants for theft out for his arrest from prior shoplifting offenses.
“Our targeted enforcement efforts have proved very successful over the last few years,” stated Deputy Chief Dan Kelso, “We do this on a small scale almost every day and frequently on a larger scale like this blitz. The message is if you come to Whitehall to steal or commit other crimes, expect to end up in jail.”