SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The San Francisco Police Department is combating rampant shoplifting in the city by conducting more blitz operations around stores to immediately catch thieves in the act. SFPD released video Tuesday showing two brazen thieves snatching stacks of pants from a Gap clothing s tore and quickly walking out without paying. (Watch in the video player above). The duo was nabbed by police officers shortly after and charged by prosecutors. Two men are seen taking stacks of pants from a San Francisco Gap store. (Image via SFPD) Within the last six months, SFPD officers have made 844 retail theft arrests, an increase of 27% compared to the previous six months. Officers also recovered $410,000 in stolen merchandise in the past year, police officials said. One of the arrests involved "habitual thief Lee Mitchell," SFPD said. Officers are familiar with Mitchell because they have arrested him 16 times, according to police. "In nearly every case, Mitchell uses a knife, pipe or other weapon to intimidate employees at a Walgreens in the Richmond District before stealing beer and other items," SFPD wrote. Police Chief Derrick Lew said, "It is incredibly frustrating to witness someone openly stealing from a business. Retail theft harms our local retailers and negatively impacts our entire city." Mayor Daniel Lurie said ramping up enforcement sends a message. Lurie wrote, "When we make it clear that stealing from stores is unacceptable in San Francisco, we make sure that people are safe and feel safe in our city. Retail theft puts workers at risk, raises prices for customers, and drives businesses out of our neighborhoods. That's why we are taking urgent action to stop it. SFPD’s stepped-up enforcement against organized retail crime has led to a nearly 20% decline in larceny cases so far this year." Recent changes in state laws, including with the passage of Prop 36, gave law enforcement and prosecutors more tools to hold shoplifters accountable. Crimes that were previously classified as misdemeanor petty theft or shoplifting can now be prosecuted as felonies if the suspect has two or more prior convictions for theft-related offenses.  District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said, "Organized retail theft is not a victimless crime. When individuals steal from our retailers, those losses do not simply disappear – they are absorbed by businesses, employees, and the communities that depend on these stores. We will continue to stand with our business community and make clear that organized retail theft will not be tolerated." Any business that would like to participate in an SFPD Organized Retail Crime operation canemail [email protected]. ...read more read less