The Eureka Police Department has made another one of its routine "special operation" sweeps of the city to round up errant shopping carts, says a release from the department today:

... numerous subjects were contacted and over 100 shopping carts were recovered. Four subjects were cited and released for misappropriation of property and one subject was arrested for an outstanding warrant for drug related charges. The estimated value of the recovered shopping carts was $18,000.00.

These roundups happen after the police department gets complaints from business owners. And the business owners are right to be miffed at the theft of their property. As for those who nab the carts, wheel them off into illicit duty as personal-stuff haulers and fort fortifiers and such, no doubt they deserve the sharp words and citations the police throw at them when they're caught.

But that doesn't mean they don't need some sort of help. Remember the outdoor hoarder of a couple years back, who seemed to specialize in shopping cart repurposing? Dozens and dozens of carts trundled into the bushes and swamps of Eureka's behind-buildings lands. That poor fellow seemed cart-addicted.

The release:

 NEWS RELEASE

On 3-20-2013, officers of the Eureka Police Department conducted a citywide special operation focusing on recovering shopping carts that have been stolen from various businesses throughout the city. This operation was prompted by complaints received from business owners regarding these ongoing thefts. 

As a result of this operation, numerous subjects were contacted and over 100 shopping carts were recovered. Four subjects were cited and released for misappropriation of property and one subject was arrested for an outstanding warrant for drug related charges. The estimated value of the recovered shopping carts was $18,000.00.

The Eureka Police Department would like to remind citizens that the shopping carts are provided by the business for their customers use. These carts should not be taken off the private property of the business without the management's consent.