BOISE -- Boise Police say they deal with shoplifting and burglaries on a daily basis.
Over the years police have developed a major network that is helping retailers stop shoplifters in their tracks.
Best Buy and many other retailers participate in the program.
When someone is noticed stealing in a store like Best Buy, their description is sent out all over the area.
It's a program that's taken about 20 years to develop and it is helping retail stores.
"We'll communicate with the other stores, and we have people in place from the police department that will go out follow them surveil them, and catch them in the act," said Curt Crum.
Curt Crum with Boise Police supervises organized retail crime prevention.
He has a full time officer that communicates on daily basis with retailers.
They share suspect information or trends they're noticing in recent thefts.
Crum says a majority of retailers in the area participate in the program and it's making a difference.
It's not only saving stores money, but it's also helping consumers’ wallets.
"Every time you spend a dollar in a retail store, traditionally 15 cents of that goes to cover theft. That's huge if you think about what every consumer spends every year," said Crum.
Other police departments have contacted Boise to see how they can start their own program.
Some departments in neighboring counties and in eastern Idaho have something similar in place.
