A Los Angeles County task force has arrested multiple suspects and seized a substantial amount of stolen merchandise following an investigation into international theft rings operating in the area, officials announced Wednesday.
Warrants were served by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Retail Crime Task Force on Aug. 4 in the 700 block of Serrano Avenue and the 700 block of Alvarado Street, both in Los Angeles, according to the sheriff’s department.
“As a result of the operation, detectives arrested two suspects, Cesar Santiago, 47, and Adriana Santiago, 22, (both) of Los Angeles, for their involvement in reselling stolen retail items within the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles,” according to a sheriff’s department statement.
“The team coordinated with representatives from retail stores Lululemon, Alo, Target, TJ Maxx and Macy’s to identify stolen merchandise. During the execution of the search warrants, investigators identified and recovered approximately $39,238.23 in stolen merchandise which consisted of clothing, kitchenware, cosmetics and personal hygiene products.”
The suspects were booked on suspicion of “violations of organized retail theft and receiving stolen property,” according to the sheriff’s department.
The task force was also busy on Aug. 5, when its detectives, along with investigators from the Inland Empire Cargo Taskforce, served a search warrant at a large warehouse in the 2700 block of South Eastern Avenue in Commerce.
“The operation led to the recovery of teeth whitening toothpaste valued at $150,000 and 22 units of Edifier speakers valued at $3,300,” according to the sheriff’s department. “Additionally on August 5, ORCTF detectives furthered their investigation of a South American theft group crew … identified in a series of organized retail thefts in Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties. Detectives learned a member of the crew, Luis Grisales Suarez, 18, of Los Angeles, who was wanted on several cases of organized retail theft, was arrested by (the) Glendale Police Department at the Glendale Galleria.”
Task force detectives responded, took custody of Suarez and booked him at the sheriff’s Temple station on suspicion of organized retail theft and grand theft.
On Aug. 6, ORCTF detectives in Santa Clarita were monitoring a South America-based crew that was suspected of committing several residential burglaries in Walnut, Glendale and Baldwin Park. Detectives allegedly found the crew was casing a neighborhood and saw them using a wifi jammer of a type that could disable security systems and prevent calls for help.
Three suspects — Ivan Comas, 30, of North Hollywood; David Oyaga, 38, of Covina; and Edson Orozco-Castillo, 32, of Santa Ana — were arrested without incident and were allegedly found to be in possession of evidence including the wifi jammer, false license plates, burglary tools, clothing and gloves.
“These investigations demonstrate the Major Crimes Bureau’s continued commitment to identifying and disrupting organized theft groups that target businesses, cargo and residential communities throughout Los Angeles County,” Major Crimes Bureau Captain Calvin Mah said. “Our detectives worked closely with law enforcement partners to identify suspects throughout the region, recover significant amounts of stolen property and hold those responsible accountable. These operations are a direct reflection of our commitment to protecting our communities and supporting businesses that are impacted by organized theft.”
The ORCTF was formed by the LASD in September 2023 to investigate, identify and apprehend suspects of organized retail crimes. It consists of three teams focused on organized burglaries and robberies, retail crime and cargo crime. All three are part of the LASD Major Crimes Bureau.
Anyone with information regarding organized retail theft, cargo theft or metal theft can contact the task force by calling 562-946-7270, or visiting orctf@lasd.org.
Information can be submitted anonymously through L.A. Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477) or at lacrimestoppers.org