Bay Area Edition | April 2026

BY RACHEL LELAND

The unit can now also proactively build relationships with managers, loss prevention teams and statewide retail theft investigators. Having a higher clearance rate also allows the department to recover stolen property. Between July 15, when the unit launched, to Dec. 31, the department recovered over $98,000 of stolen property, Kifer said. “That’s property that can go back into the retail, which helps our community with the sales tax that goes with it,” Kifer said.

The breakdown

What it means

League City business district ocer Pierre Nguyen said having a unit dedicated to prevent- ing and solving theft crimes has contributed to the department’s higher clearance rate. Oftentimes, theft involves the suspect quickly leaving the scene before ocers arrive, but having a regular presence in the business district allows the ocers to identify the getaway car or driver, Nguyen said.

Kifer said improved communication with loss prevention is driving a rise in shoplifting reports while contributing to a drop in other crimes. “I think deterrence is our biggest asset,” Kifer said. “I think the more we’re hitting and the more cases that we’re solving, the less attractive it is to come and commit crimes here in League City.” Since the unit launched, the department took 130 reports, resulting in 72 arrests. However Kifer said he was most satised by the unit’s clearance rate of 82%, which indicates the percentage of crimes the unit was able to solve. The national standard for clearance in property crime cases is around 15% to 17%, Kifer said. “I’m proud to say that my team has been able to [solve] four out of ve cases,” Kifer said.

By the numbers

Activity from 07/15/2025 - 12/31/2025

Calls for service: 381 Reports taken: 130 Arrests: 381

Cases closed by warrant: 54

Feb. 2024- Feb. 2025

Feb. 2025- Feb. 2026

O ense

Shoplifting

682

348

Business checks: 477 Clearance rate: 81.54%

Theft of motor vehicle

Theft from motor vehicle

118

Theft from building

Burglary

The department tracked the total shoplifting reports led each day of the week in 2024. When crime happens

Forgery

LEAGUE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Mon.

Tue.

Looking ahead

“If we’re able to cover that much in six months, when we’re just getting started … as the years progress and we ne-tune how we operate, I see a lot of what

Wed.

The business unit is hoping to hire a fourth ocer, Kifer said. The new hire will expand the department’s ability to police hot spots in the business district area, which accounts for 18% of all calls for service in the city, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.

Thur.

this team is doing being able to circulate that back into the economy to help the city out.”

Fri.

Sat.

SGT. JASON KIFER, LEAGUE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

Sun.

LEAGUE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

BAY AREA EDITION