Police last week recovered more than $200,000 of stolen merchandise, and arrested two suspects in the discovery of a major retail theft operation in Vallejo.
The bust comes following a spree of brazen smash-and-grab thefts across the Bay Area in recent weeks.
"These kinds of crimes aren't just hurting large retailers. In our city, they’re hurting workers who are losing their jobs and seeing their hours cut. They’re hurting seniors who depend on neighborhood pharmacies that are being forced to shutter," San Francisco Chief of Police Bill Scott said in a statement. "Working together, the agencies taking part in CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force are making a difference and making clear that there’s no place for organized retail theft in California.”
A recent arrest by the California Highway Patrol led investigators on December 9 to execute a search warrant at a residence in Vallejo. Task force members found evidence of a "retail theft operation," including the discovery of stolen goods from multiple retailers including "CVS, Victoria’s Secret, Gap, Target, LensCrafters, TJX, Nordstrom, Walgreens, Safeway, and several more," police said in a press release.
In addition, officials searched a storage unit in San Francisco when a male "connected to the locker" arrived at the facility. He was subsequently arrested after investigators determined he was "involved with organized retail theft crime."
That investigation led authorities to return to the Vallejo residence and arrest the "primary suspect" involved in the operation.
In total, police arrested two suspects and recovered approximately 15,000 stolen items worth over $200,000.
The investigation was carried out by the CHP, Organized Crime Task Force with the assistance of the San Francisco Police Department’s Retail Theft Unit.
"The brazen retail thefts we've seen recently are organized by sophisticated criminal enterprises and they demand a no-less sophisticated response from law enforcement agencies working in close coordination," said California Highway Patrol, Golden Gate Division Chief, Chris Costigan. "The arrests and seizures we're announcing today are the result of an ongoing investigation, with more arrests expected. We hope this sends a strong message to would-be thieves and those facilitating their crimes that they will be held accountable."
CHP Officer Edgar Vega told KCBS Radio that the investigation remains ongoing. He said the arrests are part of a larger effort by authorities to crack down on retail thefts across the region.
"We believe that this is organized by sophisticated criminal enterprises. We are upping our response that of those individuals conducting our response," he said.
Vegas encouraged anybody that witnesses retail theft to report it to law enforcement. He mentioned specifically witnesses should try to include an accurate description of what the involved parties look like, provide the license plate number of the suspects' vehicle, and report the incident to the store manager and local authorities. Vega emphasized it's important to use caution and give these facts only when it's safe to do so.
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