Chico businesses display “Shoplifting is a Crime” stickers to combat theft | News [Video]

CHICO, Calif. – If you’ve recently walked through downtown Chico, you may have noticed a new message on the windows of several local stores: “Shoplifting is a Crime.”

These stickers, appearing in at least four retail shops on a single block, are part of a campaign aimed at reminding the public that stealing is a serious and prosecutable offense.

The stickers are the result of a partnership between Team Chico, a local Chamber of Commerce initiative focused on identifying community business needs, and the Chico Police Department. The goal of the campaign is to deter shoplifters by increasing awareness and letting potential offenders know that theft will not be tolerated.

Business owners like Kathy Squyres, the owner of Country Squyres Antiques, are hopeful the stickers will encourage …