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East County News ServiceImage: Public Domain
June 2, 2024 (San Diego) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced arrests and charges against four people allegedly involved in organized retail theft, robbery, burglary, and grand theft carried out at high-end jewelry stores throughout California. Those thefts included jewelry stores in the San Diego region, including El Cajon in East County.
From April 4, 2023, until May 8, 2024, there were robberies, burglaries, and thefts in San Diego, Orange, Riverside, and Kern Counties that resulted in more than $1.5 million in losses to the stores. The suspects allegedly conducted smash-and-grab style thefts by running into shopping mall stores and grabbing high-dollar jewelry before running out. The suspects also allegedly burglarized stores after hours. The merchandise that was stolen was worth approximately $1,542,706.
This case was investigated by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF),which collaborated with police departments in San Diego, Carlsbad, Escondido, El Cajon, National City, Chula Vista and Bakersfield as well as, and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. DOJ filed multiple felony charges, including organized retail theft, robbery, burglary, and grand theft against the suspects.
"Organized retail crime has been plaguing our state for far too long,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “It harms businesses, retailers, and consumers – and puts the public at risk. I thank our local law enforcement partners for their work in apprehending the suspects in this case. The California Department of Justice and its partners will continue fighting to keep our communities, businesses, and consumers safe from retail theft and other crimes."
“The Organized Theft Groups profiting from these crimes have grown larger, become more violent and continue to have an adverse and destructive effect on society,” said Christopher Davis, acting special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “These criminals hurt our communities by impacting local businesses and our general sense of safety. As exemplified in this investigation, HSI San Diego and HSI Los Angeles worked together in partnership with our state and local law enforcement agencies to fight organized retail crime. HSI will continue to dedicate resources to protect our economy and overall national security as these organizations continually attempt to operate with limited fear of criminal penalties.”
California and states across the country have seen a pattern of organized retail crime. According to a 2020 national survey, U.S. retailers lose approximately $700,000 per every $1 billion in sales to organized retail crime. Attorney General Bonta has made this issue a top priority and asks the public to submit complaints and tips at oag.ca.gov/retailcrime.
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