From Tyson’s Corner to Berkeley, Crime Surge Strikes Retail’s Biggest Names
Law enforcement agencies from coast to coast are clamping down on organized retail crime.
A week after California Governor Gavin Newsom invested $267 million to combat a growing crime wave, California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Organized Retail Crime Task Force released details about the recovery of $218,000 in stolen merchandise.
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Alongside L.A. Police Department (LAPD) officers from the L.A. Organized Retail Crime Task Force, CHP authorities on Sept. 13 uncovered an extensive “fencing” operation that sells stolen goods through outlets that seem legitimate. Officers recovered products from Victoria’s Secret, Amazon, CVS, Rite Aid and Ralphs stores being stored in tents and a box truck at a private residence.
Authorities arrested three women and seven men from Compton in connection with the crimes. Police also seized about $45,000 in cash, CHP said in a statement.
Police in Pasadena outside Los Angeles arrested members of a Romanian retail crime ring that stole thousands of dollars of merchandise from a Macy’s store.
A Pasadena Police Department (PPD) detective stakeout at the Pasadena Plaza’s Macy’s store on Sept. 8 observed four suspects who appeared to be “methodically choosing high value clothing items” and left without paying for the concealed items. PPD detectives arrested all four suspects after a brief chase.
On Sept. 11, the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office filed felony complaints against the four suspects, identified as Vasile Alberto Balan, Mihaela Simion, Cosmin Cismarv, and Sorin Marin Stefan, for grand theft, with bail set at $250,000. Bail for Balan, who had an outstanding no-bail warrant from Las Vegas, was set at $300,000.
In an ABC 7 press conference, PPD Lieutenant Carolyn Gordon said detectives are investigating the suspects’ involvement in other L.A. County, Orange County and Clark County crimes. “We know these subjects are involved in numerous crimes throughout California and Las Vegas,” she said. “At this time, there’s more than 15 crimes that we know about.”
PPD also said the foreign nationals had previously been deported from the U.S. and weren’t sure how long they’ve been back. Members of criminal rings often enter the U.S. on visas, according to Detective Erick Urquieta. “This group came from Romania, and with these visas, they’re usually obtained through fraudulent means, and then they conduct their crimes,” he said.
Suspects in Berkeley, Calif. used a vehicle to smash into a Lululemon store on Tuesday. The six suspects threatened to shoot a security guard while stuffing stolen merchandise into their car and fleeing, the anonymous worker told KTVU of the “scary” incident. In a statement to the outlet, Lululemon said it takes crime “very seriously.”
“The safety and well-being of our employees and guests is lululemon’s top priority,” it said. “We take thefts and vandalism very seriously and continue to follow our protocols for responding to these incidents, including working closely with law enforcement. We will continue to monitor the situation, provide support to our employees, and cooperate with local partners and authorities.”
Police in McLean, Va. arrested several suspects tied to organized retail crimes at Tyson’s Corner Center’s luxury malls. The Fairfax County Police Department’s (FCPD) Tyson’s Urban Unit (TUT) said it dismantled three retail crime rings that stole $40,000 in merchandise from several mall stores.
TUT told a local Fox News affiliate last week that eight New York suspects were arrested in conjunction with the crimes. Officers arrested Jamine Decambra, Darnel Eric Davis and Marcia Jenelle Lewis on Sept. 14 when Decambra and Davis tried to use a stolen credit card for a $21,000 purchase at a Louis Vuitton store. During their arrest, TUT seized 36 fake driver’s licenses, 32 other stolen credit cards, a postal service uniform and a mail key that they believe the suspects used to search mailboxes for credit card details.
Additional arrests were linked to thefts totaling $31,000 at area stores including Sephora and Sunglass Hut.
“We have groups that will travel up and down the 95 Corridor mostly, and they’ll stop along the way, stealing from different locations on that route,” FCPD Lieutenant Will Arnest told the Fox News affiliate.
TUT reported its highest theft rate in about five years. It’s on track to make more than 1,000 arrests after tracking down 855 suspects last year, Arnest said.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) wants the public’s help to locate a repeat offender who allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of fashion and more from Brooklyn retailers.
Police said a suspect robbed the Burlington store on Fulton St. near Downtown, Brooklyn on Aug. 17. The suspect stole $6,050 in apparel, electronics and fragrances. NYPD officers believe the same suspect broke into a nearby Champ’s sportswear store on Sept. 15. The suspect stole apparel, footwear worth about $5,300, and $700 in cash.
Additional reporting by Jessica Binns.
