ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) -- Shoplifting arrests in Elizabethtown nearly doubled in 2024 compared to the previous year.

According to the Elizabethtown Police Department, officers arrested 242 people for shoplifting last year. And that number of arrests pales in comparison to 2023, when 124 people were placed behind bars for the crime.

The previous high for shoplifting arrests came in 2020, with 182 arrests.

"In Elizabethtown, if you committed theft and we get contacted, you are going to go to jail," Chris Denham, a spokesperson for the department, said Tuesday.

The surging number of arrests in 2024 doesn't necessarily correlate to a spike in the crime itself, according to police. In 2024, EPD cracked down on shoplifters in the area to send a message to criminals. Police believe the numbers show they're committed to sticking to a no-tolerance policy.

"I know other jurisdictions are oftentimes not making arrests," Denham said. "That's not the case here. If you're a thief, do not come to Hardin County. Our justice system is alive and well.

"I don't think thefts have increased. I think enforcement has increased."

Targets for these thieves are commonly large stores in the area like Lowe's, Home Depot and other major retailers. However, small businesses aren't immune to shoplifting.

However, police said big companies have stepped up enforcement inside their stores, which has helped prosecute the people responsible.

"They're not playing games," Denham said. "If they identify you as being a thief in their store, they are prosecuting."

If you encounter a person shoplifting, police encourage you to 'be a good witness' by getting a description of the suspect(s), recording license plate numbers of vehicles, or picking up the phone and calling authorities.

Top Stories:

Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.