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Indianapolis, IN

IMPD ready to crack down on shoplifting as holiday season ramps up

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IMPD ready to crack down on shoplifting as holiday season ramps up


INDIANAPOLIS — Holiday shopping is very big business.

In 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau found that the average American household’s retail spending for that December was $3,800. As a nation, the holiday shopping retail tab was a whopping $531.8-billion. Again, that’s just retail spending.

And where that amount money goes, thieves are sure to follow.

That same year across the state of Indiana, Capital One Shoppers Research found retailers lost $1.512 billion to theft.

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To protect retailers and customers in Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department plans to be more visible at city shopping centers.

“What we do is have extra patrols (along North Keystone Avenue), and up in 82nd Street and 86th Street corridors,” said IMPD Captain Shane Foley. “Our goal is to reduce crime and to make arrests if those things happen.”

Those patrols, dubbed “Holiday Helpers,” are both inside and outside stores. They are intended to deter would-be thieves and assure shoppers IMPD is there to protect them and their purchases.

IMPD will maintain an elevated presence at retails locations through Dec. 29, but more uniformed patrols is not the only line of defense for retailers.

Indianapolis-based shopping mall giant Simon has a security hub. Inside, there are teams of analysts reviewing data and video cameras from its nearly 200 shopping center across the country. In real time, security assessments are made using advanced technology.

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“They’re looking at a lot of different things,” Simon Chief Security Officer Russ Tuttle said in a March 2023 interview. “Artificial intelligence. They’re looking at cameras. They’re taking in phone calls. They’re dispatching security officers and police officers around the country.”

There are also signs of increased law enforcement success in thwarting organized retail theft.

Just this week, Queens NY District Attorney Melinda Katz announced a multi-state theft ring has been broken up. The operation allegedly is responsible for stealing $2 million in perfumes, cosmetics, clothes, and other beauty items and then reselling them.

Katz noted that “this group also shipped thousands of products to the Dominican Republic, where they also operated a brick-and-mortar retail store.”

The stores targeted included Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Macy’s, Victoria’s Secret, and American Eagle.

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Commonly, the cost of retail inventory losses through theft are passed along in the form of price increases paid for by consumers.

One-way shoppers can protect themselves after making purchases by ensuring their items are not left in plain sight inside their vehicles. IMPD urges people to store purses, packages, parcels and backpacks in the trunk, so they are not visible to would-be thieves.



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Indianapolis, IN

Tommy Davidson to perform in Indianapolis, discusses new sitcom and comedy

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Tommy Davidson to perform in Indianapolis, discusses new sitcom and comedy


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Comedian Tommy Davidson, known for his work on “In Living Color” and “The Proud Family,” is set to perform at Helium Comedy Club in Indianapolis on Dec. 19, 20 and 21, 2025.

General admission tickets are priced at $36.97, while reserved tickets are available for $49.39. During a recent interview, Davidson expressed his thoughts on the lack of new Christmas music, emphasizing the need for fresh original songs during the holiday season.

Davidson has been touring with fellow comedian Cat Williams, showcasing their unique styles together. He revealed that their collaborative performances have allowed audiences from various backgrounds to come together and enjoy comedy, stating, “I look at my audience and it’s Latinos looking at whites and whites looking at Asians and Asians looking at Indians. We’re all the same still. And everybody laughing together, which I think is something that is vastly needed right now.”

In addition to his touring, Davidson is producing a new sitcom titled “Varnell,” based on a character from his earlier work. He shared insights into his upbringing, recalling, “Of course, of course. My mom taught me, you know, you live with an open hand, you know and you can receive and you can give, you know.” He reflected on his journey from humble beginnings to Hollywood stardom, highlighting the importance of hard work in achieving success.

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Davidson discussed the significance of his experiences and how they shape his comedy. “That’s what comedy comes into play and has for so long for me personally, like stand up. That’s what it does. It takes all of your worries away, anything that you think is going on in the world.” He also touched upon the importance of storytelling and connecting with an audience, emphasizing, .”..that work part, that word work, you know, that’s what my mom taught me.”



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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis residents face mixed experiences with USPS during busiest shipping week

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Indianapolis residents face mixed experiences with USPS during busiest shipping week


INDIANAPOLIS — A busy holiday shipping season has left some Indianapolis residents frustrated with postal service delays, while others report smooth deliveries during what the United States Postal Service calls its busiest week of the year.

“This is actually the busiest mailing, shipping and delivery week of the entire year. So we are incredibly busy,” said Susan Wright, USPS spokesperson.

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Indianapolis residents face mixed experiences with USPS during holiday season

For Indianapolis resident Steve Burnstein, the holiday rush has meant nearly two weeks of waiting for gifts that should have arrived days ago.

“I’m just frustrated to the top, you know, there’s no reason for it,” Burnstein said.

After dropping off his gifts, Steve was told delivery would take just a matter of days. Nearly two weeks later, the packages remain stuck at a distribution center just miles from his home.

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“They’re sitting at a distribution center at English at or Brookville Road near 465,” Burnstein added.

WRTV followed Steve to the post office to track down his missing packages, and employees spent more than 15 minutes searching for answers.

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing — it’s moving through the distribution center— but not to California,” Steve said after the lengthy wait.

WRTV

Wright offered advice for avoiding shipping delays during the busy season.

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“One thing that I want to encourage customers to do is to be sure you have an accurate address, and the one thing you do not want to guess about is the zip code, because the zip code is our first line of sortation. And so if that is incorrect, it will misdirect your package,” Wright said.

Other Indianapolis residents have had better experiences with the postal service during the holiday rush.

“They’re very good about getting your mail out and getting it on time,” Delores Parker from Indianapolis said.

Delores recommends additional precautions.

“I usually make sure it’s where I get a return receipt if it’s something that’s very important,” she added.

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Steve suggests considering alternatives for critical shipments.

“Ship them FedEx, ship them UPS. Check and make sure that they’re gonna go,” Steve said.

According to the USPS Website, the deadline for a package to arrive by Christmas through Priority Mail Express is Saturday, December 20.


Griffin Gonzalez is the In Your Community multimedia journalist for Hamilton County. He joined WRTV in January of 2024. Griffin loves to tell stories about people overcoming their biggest obstacles and share the good news that his community has to offer. Share your story ideas and important issues with Griffin by emailing him at griffin.gonzalez@wrtv.com.





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Indianapolis, IN

Silver Alert declared for 16-year-old boy missing from Indianapolis

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Silver Alert declared for 16-year-old boy missing from Indianapolis


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the disappearance of Robert Williams Jr., a 16-year-old Black male who is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 185 pounds, has black hair with brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a gray coat, blue sweat pants, and black tennis shoes.

Williams Jr. is missing from Indianapolis, and was last seen on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. He is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance. 

Investigators ask that anyone with information on Williams Jr. contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department at 317-327-6541 or 911.

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