The first indictments by a new Dayton-area task force targeting organized retail theft were announced by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Kettering Police Chief Chip Protsman. The Tactical Crime Suppression Unit (TCSU) Organized Retail Crime Task Force, led by the Kettering Police Department and formed under Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, recently secured charges against five individuals.
“The problem is much worse than petty theft – organized fraudsters are ripping off business for billions of dollars every year,” said Yost. “We’re standing up task forces across the state to address this blight and put the bad guys behind bars.”
Chief Protsman commented on the impact of these crimes: “The effects of organized retail theft on communities statewide are significant, and more resources need to be utilized to combat the problem. That’s why we are proud to be partners in the TCSU Organized Retail Crime Task Force. The men and women of the task force have hit the ground running, as demonstrated by these recent indictments. This is only the beginning – we will continue to work diligently with public and private partners to address these crimes, which negatively impact everyone.”
The creation of this task force followed passage of the Fight Organized Retail Crime and Empower Law Enforcement Act earlier this year. This law, co-written by Yost’s office, enables law enforcement collaborations focused on combating organized retail theft—a crime estimated to cost Ohio businesses over $3 billion each year.
According to authorities, two separate incidents led to criminal indictments against five people. In one case, a Columbus resident was indicted for allegedly stealing more than $7,500 in merchandise from a local business; his alleged accomplice from Reynoldsburg faces related charges. In another incident, three men from Hamilton and Cincinnati were charged after being observed bagging unpaid merchandise; over $1,100 in goods was recovered.
In addition to Kettering Police Department leadership, agencies involved in the task force include Miamisburg Police Department, Moraine Police Department, Oakwood Public Safety Department, Germantown Police Department, West Carrollton Police Department, Springboro Police Department, Centerville Police Department, Miami Township Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.
This is Ohio’s second such unit; earlier this year saw arrests by the Northwest Ohio Regional Retail Crime Task Force.
Indictments represent allegations; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office leads legal matters for the state—including prosecuting crimes like those addressed by this new task force—and provides services ranging from consumer protection to representing government entities throughout Ohio. The office operates from its headquarters in Columbus with regional offices statewide.
