Retail giants are accounting for dozens of crime calls to Tucson police. The Tucson Police Department last year received thousands of calls from box giant stores all across the city, most of them for shop lifting. But, Wamart stores appear to stand out, as far as the number of calls.
Now many are believing the trend may symbolize frustration for police and community activists.
Walmart accounted for more than 2,000 calls and most of them from the location on Grant and Alvernon, where 315 calls police calls were made.
Police reports obtained by KGUN9 indicate Walmart was the leading store that accounted for most calls to TPD. The Grant and Alvernon and the Broadway and Alvernon locations made up more than 600 calls.
Fry's, Ross and Costco were the other box stores on the list, with the Fry's on Grant and First making 207 calls. Officers say the calls ranged from trespassing to shoplifting to even homicides.
Meantime, the retailers are being criticized by citizens for chewing up time officers could otherwise be spending patrolling neighborhoods. However, Walmart says change is coming. The company is stepping up its efforts to cut down on police-call volume. Wal-mart will be renovating stores, and implementing new security policies for certain low-level offenders.
In other efforts to combat the issue at a local level, retailers are teaming up with TPS and the Tucson Metro Chamber. They have formed the coalition against retail theft to educate retailers about organized retail theft. More information on the coalition here.
