Three face charges in statewide high-end retail theft ring

Rhea Caoile
·2 min read
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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Three people face felony charges for their alleged involvement in a series of organized retail crimes at various high-end retail stores throughout the state, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Tuesday.

According to Bonta, from Dec. 12, 2022 to Feb. 12, 2024, there were commercial burglaries and attempted burglaries in multiple California counties, including San Diego, which led to more approximately $309,752 in estimated losses.

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The other counties where these crimes occurred included Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Alameda and Santa Clara.

Twenty-six-year-old Isaiah Abdullah, 25-year-old Ishmael Baptist and 26-year-old Nickolas Mallory were identified as the three suspects.

The California Department of Justice (DOJ) filed multiple charges against Abdullah, Baptist and Mallory, including organized retail theft, robbery and grand theft.

The suspects allegedly ran into high-end retail stores, grabbed purses and other expensive merchandise that were securely attached to displays with locks, and then ran away, according to Bonta’s release. The stolen merchandise included brands like Burberry, Prada, Sunglass Hut, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Michael Kors, Gucci, Coach, Versace and Maison Margiela.

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The criminal complaint alleges the following crimes were committed in San Diego County:

  • $15,900 merchandise from Prada allegedly committed by Abdullah on Feb. 1, 2023

  • $20,282.11 merchandise from Burberry allegedly committed by Abdullah and Mallory on March 5, 2023

  • $30,277.75 merchandise from Bottega Veneta allegedly committed by Abdullah and Mallory on July 28, 2023

  • $16,950 merchandise from Louis Vuitton allegedly committed by Abdullah on August 18, 2023

  • $33,140 merchandise from Louis Vuitton allegedly committed by Abdullah and Mallory on Sep. 10, 2023

  • Second-degree robbery allegedly committed by Abdullah and Mallory on Oct. 3, 2023

  • $22,340 merchandise from Prada allegedly committed by Abdullah and Mallory on Oct. 3, 2023

  • $5,095 merchandise from Coach allegedly committed by Abdullah on Nov. 3, 2023

  • $4,500 merchandise from Burberry allegedly committed by Abdullah on Nov. 8, 2023

  • $23,080 merchandise from Louis Vuitton allegedly committed by Abdullah and Baptist on Dec. 26, 2023

  • Second-degree robbery allegedly committed by Abdullah on Jan. 6, 2024

  • $11,295 merchandise from Versace allegedly committed by Abdullah on Jan. 6, 2024

The investigation was a collaboration between the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Organized Retail Task Force, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Costa Mesa Police Department, Newport Beach Police Department, Livermore Police Department and Palo Alto Police Department.

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