Dozens Arrested Across Oregon as Police Target Surging Retail Theft in Multi-Agency Crackdown

MEDFORD, Ore. — The Medford Police Department (MPD) has again partnered with law enforcement agencies across Oregon and the United States in a large-scale retail crime operation, focusing on the Target store on Crater Lake Highway, resulting in 16 arrests.

Following the successful Medford Police Target retail theft operation earlier this year in which 12 people were arrested, the Washington County Sheriff’s sting that caught 16ixteen Shoplifters in April, the massive Portland Police bust at Mall 205 in which 29 were arrested, and the Grants Pass Police Crack Down at WinCo and Walmart in which six thieves were apprehended during the single evening operation, MPD executed another operation last week.

This was the eighth MPD retail theft operation conducted at various Medford businesses in 2024 and 2025.

These operations resulted in 73 arrests and the recovery of over $3,844 in stolen merchandise. Retail crime operations were also conducted in Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, Marion, Lane, and Deschutes.

During the operation, officers engaged with people suspected of theft and other crimes as they exited stores and others thought to be involved in criminal activity in the area. As a result, 13 arrests were made on various charges, and over $1,456 in stolen merchandise was recovered.

The nationwide operation was coordinated by the Cook County State’s Attorney Regional Organized Crime Task Force (CCROC) in Illinois (www.ccroc.org).

It was partly funded by the 2023 Oregon Senate Bill 900’s Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Grant Program administered by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, which awarded the MPD $48,867 for the 2024-25 period.