The National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC), with support from the Open Philanthropy Project, is conducting a research project focused on examining retail theft in Los Angeles NNSC is focused on establishing the contours and dynamics of LA’s theft crimes through a multi-stakeholder project. The NNSC recognizes an opportunity to connect insights from disparate information sources to identify most discernable characteristics of the retail theft problem, as well as the potential for policy changes that will directly addresses the issue. Using insights gained from findings during previous site visits, NNSC will continue to engage law enforcement agencies, municipal departments, corporate security, retail businesses, and community groups to build a comprehensive picture of petty theft in the retail space. Based on established core facts, NNSC will identify institutional and policy challenges to addressing retail theft, independent of the causal nature of the crime problem. NNSC will then produce a report identifying the character and parameters of LA’s retail theft problem, and make policy recommendations based our findings. The report will be delivered to our funder, Open Philanthropy Project – the client on this project – and potentially shared with their partners in California for the purpose of understanding dynamics on the ground with regard to retail theft.
