CA Sheriff detonates major big-box retailer for handcuffing deputies in theft busts

A California sheriff became a social media star after he busted a major national retailer that called for help with burglars and then restricted how deputies could do their jobs.

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper expressed his frustration with Target in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, blasting the big-box chain for handcuffing its deputies for fear of being called out by leftists bad things.

In his post, Sheriff Cooper explained how the regional security directorate instructed his team on how to make any arrests due to the possibility that the company could be the subject of negative attention from a viral video and that the store decided to allow a shoplifter to steal and defraud the store.

I can’t make this stuff up. Recently, we tried to help Target. Target contacted our detectives and property crime sergeant numerous times to assist with the shoplifters, most of whom were known transients. We coordinated with them and set up an operation with detectives and… pic.twitter.com/2TJCXApGMs

— Jim Cooper (@SheriffJCooper) November 9, 2023

“I can’t make this stuff up. Recently, we tried to help Target. Target contacted our detectives and our property crime sergeant numerous times to help with shoplifters, most of whom were known transients. We coordinated with them and mounted an operation with detectives and our North POP team,” he wrote.

“At the briefing, we were told by their regional security chief that we could not contact suspects inside the store; we were unable to handcuff the suspects in the store; and if we arrested somebody, they wanted us to take them outside … behind the store … in the rain,” Cooper continued. “They told us they didn’t want to create a scene inside the store and have people film it and put it on social media. They didn’t want negative press. Unbelievable.”

“Our deputies saw a lady on camera carry her own shopping bags, go down the body wash isle and grab a bunch of native body washes. She then went to customer service and the it’s back! Target decided to do nothing and just let it go. Yet somehow closing deodorant and raising prices on everyday items we need to survive is their best response,” the sheriff recalled .

“We don’t tell big companies how to do their job, they don’t have to tell us how to do ours,” he concluded.

(Video: YouTube/Fox 40 News)

Sheriff Cooper’s post drew a massive response from X users, none of it positive for the Minneapolis retail giant.

Thanks for sharing this, Sheriff. Unfortunately, as you point out, everyone pays more for it. Ignoring the rule of law benefits no one: everyone loses.

— S Max Brown (@smaxbrown) November 10, 2023

Thanks for sharing this. The average American needs to know that some corporations aren’t doing much to help stop the problem. It seems Target’s policies have become part of the problem as well.

— Yordana Sánchez (@yordanaSD) November 10, 2023

The best way to fix the theft problem (not to mention the cleaning problem) a @Goal is to avoid shopping at Target

— Caroline Four Five Two (@Caroline_452) November 10, 2023

well, @goal They didn’t want publicity related to retail theft, but now they have even more publicity. https://t.co/000HhTkVtO

— Stanley Roberts (@StanleyRoberts) November 10, 2023

Let’s be honest, @Goal he is MUCH more concerned with appearances and virtue signaling than doing the right thing. They keep proving it time and time again.

— Michael McNeil (@Michael94267904) November 12, 2023

Target is more concerned with negative press than taking a stand to protect our property rights.

I think I’ll stop being one of the saps who actually pay for things at Target.

— Alan Burradell (@alanburradell) November 11, 2023

I haven’t shopped there in decades..their policies are crap..their trans kids fixing trash is crap..their clothes are crap..they are overpriced and basically a place to use the bathroom

— Becky (@heartz0fvalor) November 12, 2023

Sheriff Cooper also targeted another national chain, Walgreens, which also doesn’t seem too concerned about stopping the rampant robberies.

Another reason not to shop at Target

— Suzy DF (@suzydfauria) November 10, 2023

Employees at a Sacramento-area Walgreen’s contacted our Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) and North Patrol Problem Oriented Policing (POP) deputies. Store employees told us they were inundated with repeat offenders, who continually stole from their stores without… pic.twitter.com/87ie3cahUb

— Jim Cooper (@SheriffJCooper) November 9, 2023

“Yesterday, as a team of a dozen deputies began to set up the operation, Walgreen’s corporate office refused to cooperate with our deputies, preventing us from conducting our operation at the store from Walgreen’s,” he wrote. “This was another example of big retailers reminding us that they do NOT care about retail theft or the consumer.”

In September, the company announced it was closing nine of its stores in multiple cities, citing increased crime, retail theft and concerns about the safety of Target team members and shoppers.

Staff writer

Chris Donaldson is an ordinary, ordinary American who is concerned about rampant corruption as well as the ongoing attacks on our way of life by those who despise our hard-won freedoms. A Navy veteran, he has been a frequent contributor to conservative websites and resides in Florida.

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