The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Thursday announced that arrests have been made in connection to what authorities said were “booster crews” that stole merchandise from various stores valued at approximately $4 million.
The merchandise included over-the-counter medications, cosmetics, miscellaneous clothing items, high-end handbags, fragrances and scented candles that were transported to locations in Los Angeles and South Gate, where they were sold off to various “fence” operations, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
A multi-location search warrant operation concluded with the arrests of seven suspects and a large amount of evidence was recovered. Additionally, a large sum of cash was seized during the operation. Seventeen separate retailers are affected by these thefts.
The suspects were arrested on suspicion of organized retail theft, organized retail theft; grand theft; and receiving stolen property.
Some of the retailers that detectives partnered with were from Target, ULTA Beauty, CVS, Walgreens, Nordstroms, Bath & Body Works, Macy’s, and TJ Maxx.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department formed the Organized Retail Crimes Task Force in September 2023. The task force is composed of three teams: ORCTF, Cargo Criminal Apprehension Team and the Burglary and Robbery Task Force.
Anyone with any information regarding retail theft was urged to contact the Organized Retail Crimes Task Force at ORCTF@LASD.ORG, or 562-946-7270.