KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — Police agencies in Kalamazoo County will be hauling shoplifters straight to jail, just in time for the holiday season.
Undersheriff Pauli Matyas said, because of jail overcrowding, shoplifters used to be issued just civil citations, which do not act as much of a deterrent.
But now, because the jail annex is open and the remodel on the old jail is complete, they have the room to start jailing shoplifters again.
“Any person who is picked up for shoplifting will go straight to jail,” Matyas said.
He said officers will just have to drop retail fraud suspects off at the jail. They’ll take care of the rest.
“What we’re hoping is that this will cut down on the number of shopliftings and will cut down on recidivism, and it’s also going to improve the business climate in the community,” Matyas said.
More information is expected to be released about the program Wednesday.
– John McNeill
