Mayor: 'Theft Will Not Be Tolerated' - Officials Announce Effort to Curb Retail Theft

Local law enforcement, prosecutors announce focused efforts to curb retail theft

Rapid City, S.D. – In response to an increase in area retail theft, the Rapid City Police Department is partnering with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pennington County States Attorney’s Office in order to better identify, arrest, and prosecute those in our community who choose to steal from area businesses.

      While violent crimes have been trending downward in Rapid City, police have observed a 16% increase in theft reports when comparing the January to November timeframe of 2023 to the same timeframe in 2022.

      “We’re letting the public know that the RCPD is taking a hard look at the way we are responding to reports of retail theft in our community,” says Chief of Police Don Hedrick. “These numbers echo increases in retail theft being observed in other cities across the nation, and we intend to bolster all appropriate resources in order to address this rise.”

      “We recognize that not every incidence of retail theft is being reported,” says RCPD Lieutenant Darren Soucy. “We’d encourage businesses to begin reporting ALL thefts in order to help us promote a safer city.”

      The RCPD has multiple ways to report thefts, including calling 911 in an emergency, dialing the non-emergency line at 605-394-4131 for an incident that requires timely law enforcement assistance, or by filing a theft report using the RCPD’s online reporting tool (available directly from the homepage at www.RapidCityPolice.org.

      “Our message is clear,” says Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun. “Theft will not be tolerated in Rapid City. We’ve seen other communities allow theft to go unchallenged, helping to fuel a sense of lawlessness that can lead to even greater challenges. Not in Rapid City. Our future is bright, but only if we keep the peace and maintain law and order. We committed to enforcing the law and ensuring this remains a safe place to raise a family, grow a business, and enjoy life.”

      Additionally, the Rapid City Police Department and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office have compiled a team of detectives/investigators specifically dedicated to the investigation of theft cases. This team is committed to the identification and apprehension of theft suspects within our community. They will be working with prosecutors at the Pennington County Sates Attorney’s Office in order to hold offenders accountable. 

      “Ensuring accountability for theft offenders is not only a crucial step towards deterrence, but also a means to safeguard local businesses and enhance public safety,” says Pennington County State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel. “The State’s Attorney’s Office stands by its business community and hopes these efforts with our law enforcement partners will translate into a significant reduction in overall theft incidents.”

      In an effort to assist detectives/investigators working these incidents, the RCPD will leverage its social media pages in order to seek the public’s assistance to help solve ongoing cases of theft in our community. The public will also see a new option to communicate with the RCPD in order to help identify unknown theft suspects. Those with information to provide about these cases can provide it via the email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

       “With this new anti-theft initiative, it is our intention to send a strong message to those who choose to victimize others in our community,” says Pennington County Sheriff Brian Mueller. “It’s imperative that we work hand-in-hand with our partners across the criminal justice system in order to hold offenders accountable for their actions.”