Police departments seeing increase in food thefts

The Rochester Police Department says that's not the case for them.

Instead, they are seeing more thefts of shoes and clothing.

Homes and assisted?

"* new for you on daybreak.

The holiday season typically brings in an uptick of big technology items being stolen.

During the pandemic though... people are going after different items. kimt news 3's madelyne watkins joins us live this morning to tell us what those are and what the rochester police department is noticing.

Good morning, madelyne./// tyler.

This year... police departments across the nation are seeing an uptick in people stealing food.

Here in rochester though... officers are saying it's a different story.

In fact... the rochester police department isn't seeing an uptick in anything.

From march to november of 2019... there were 609 reports of shoplifting.

That same time frame this year... there are 427 reports.

With more than 20 million americans currently on some form of unemployment..

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The need for hunger has significantly increased.

Sergeant joel blahnik tells me rochester has a mission of helping people who experience homelessness or hunger.

He says because the med city has stepped up in during the pandemic... people don't feel like they have to steal "rochester, i mean you look at what we here do for homelessness and serving meals and stuff.

The mayor does a great job supporting all that stuff and those problems. so i think maybe that's why you're not seeing as much of it here.

It's not really predominant because of all the resources that we have here to help these people."

If you're needing assistance with food during the pandemic... there are several organizations that can help.

You can find those links on our website kimt dot com.

Live in rochester.

Madelyne watkins kimt thank you madelyne.

The rochester police department ?

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