Officers staging an organized retail theft sting discovered a missing juvenile as well as some $2,000 in stolen goods in an operation that netted 11 arrests, the Hemet Police Department announced Wednesday.
The juvenile was found safe, but police provided no other information on that aspect of the case. It was not known how long the juvenile had been missing.
The operation was conducted Monday by the Hemet police “Restoring Our Community Strategy” team and the California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force at retail stores the KPC Towne Plaza in Hemet.
The 11 people arrested face felony and misdemeanor theft charges, and in addition to the $2,000 in stolen merchandise, three vehicles were impounded, according to police.
Organized retail theft incidents may be reported to the Hemet P.D. at 951-765-2400 or anonymously through the department’s smartphone app.