California AG charges 9 people in organized retail thefts in Sacramento and around state
Nine people accused of being part of an organized theft ring that hit major retailers throughout the state such as Macy’s, Lululemon and Abercrombie & Fitch face felony charges filed this week by the California Department of Justice.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law last year aimed at curbing a rash of violent smash-and-grab thefts like a recent case at a Roseville jewelry store, where a mob rushes in, grabs merchandise and runs for the door. The law re-established organized retail theft, which can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor.
“Organized retail theft hurts businesses, employees, and the public — and this criminal activity will not be tolerated in California,” Attorney General Rob Bonta stated in a Friday news release. “Today we take another step toward tackling this issue by announcing the arrests and felony charges against individuals alleged to be participants in an organized criminal scheme targeting retailers throughout our state.”
The arrests resulted from an investigation launched last year by the California Highway Patrol, partnering with the Justice Department, local law enforcement and retailers. The thefts occurred in counties around the state, including Sacramento, investigators allege.
Other counties in which the ring operated were Los Angeles, Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Ventura, according to the release.
“This case exemplifies law enforcement’s collective commitment to enhance public safety throughout the state of California,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said. “I applaud the efforts of our investigators who have worked tirelessly on this case which resulted in the arrests and recovery of the stolen merchandise.”
Eight people arrested in two sweeps
Officers arrested five suspects in Los Angeles on Monday and said they recovered roughly $62,000 in cash and $135,000 in stolen goods from Macy’s, Columbia Sportswear, Abercrombie & Fitch, J.C. Penney, and Lululemon. An additional suspect was charged Tuesday and remains at large.
Those six face charges that include conspiracy to commit a felony, organized retail theft, grand theft, possession of stolen property and a special allegation alleging that the theft totaled more than $100,000, prosecutors said.
In a separate complaint, three suspects were arrested Tuesday and are accused of possession of stolen merchandise valued at $17,000.
All of the cases were charged in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Investigators said the ring even shipped goods internationally.
Survey shows high cost of retail crime
The attorney general said that a 2020 national survey showed that U.S. retailers were losing about $700,000 per every $1 billion in sales to organized retail crime. Bonta pledged to “aggressively pursue and hold accountable” anyone committing the crime.
In December, Bonta announced that the lead defendant in a band of five brazen Bay Area shoplifters, Danny Louis Drago, would be sentenced to six years in prison.
After a two-year investigation, law enforcement recovered $8 million of merchandise they alleged was stolen from retailers such as CVS, Target and Walgreens. Officers said they found the goods and $85,000 in cash at the defendants’ warehouse, residences and storage facilities.
This story was originally published March 26, 2022 at 4:01 PM with the headline "California AG charges 9 people in organized retail thefts in Sacramento and around state."
