OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Officials with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office say slight change in Oshtemo Township ordinance should help them cut down on a rise in retail theft and fraud.
Stores like Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, Target, and Walgreens in the Maple Hill Pavilion are the main targets for the thefts of boxes of candy bars, with the so-called “candy boys” then selling the product in front of storefronts across the street.
In collaboration with Oshtemo Township officials and legal counsel, the Sheriff’s Office reviewed existing ordinances and identified that the Township’s Hawking/Peddling Ordinance could be utilized to help address this issue. With a minor modification, the ordinance now requires individuals to obtain authorization through township offices prior to selling goods or services within the township.
The Sheriff’s Office says the update provides deputies with a tool to identify individuals operating outside of the ordinance and supports ongoing investigative efforts related to retail theft and
fraud. Additionally, the ordinance holds individuals accountable not only for unauthorized sales but also for knowingly assisting others, in the sale of goods without a permit.
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