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KCSO retail crime unit arrests over 400 during holiday season

The special task force recovered more than $96,000 in stolen property between Nov. 20 and Dec. 30.

A special task force with the Knox County Sheriff's Office made more than 400 arrests connected to retail crime during the holiday season.

The sheriff's office says its Organized Retail Crime Unit Task Force made arrests for everything from shop lifting to drug use, and recovered more than $96,000 in stolen property between Nov. 20 and Dec. 30.

Boxes of stolen merchandise recovered by the Knox County Sheriff's Office Organized Retail Crime Unit Task Force during the 2017 holiday season. The task force made more than 400 arrests connected to retail crime between Nov. 20 and Dec. 30.

The task force arrested 374 adults, 52 juvenile and issued seven misdemeanor citations.

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KCSO said the task force's success shows they are taking a proactive approach to elevated retail crime.

"Thieves get smarter. they're things that they do and we're staying on top of that and trying to stay ahead of them and stay proactive," said Lee Tramel, KCSO chief of administration.

Tramel said this is the sixth year the task force has been in operation.

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