Three people were arrested for their alleged involvement with an organized retail theft operation that targeted stores across Los Angeles County, authorities said Friday.
The three Los Angeles residents were identified as 49-year-old Cheyla Ramirez, 19-year-old Ruben Lepiz Campos and 27-year-old Rogelio Soriano, according to the Glendale Police Department.
Investigators said that in January and February, they linked the three to at least five grand thefts in Glendale and another five throughout L.A. County at stores including Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx and Marshalls, where they stole large amounts of merchandise that was then sold for profit.
Downtown Policing Unit officers allegedly observed Ramirez and Campos shoplifting from a TJ Maxx store in Glendale March 3 and arrested them, recovering nearly $2,000 in merchandise. A search of Ramirez’s vehicle revealed more merchandise, tools used to defeat security sensors and a notebook detailing resale transactions, according to police.
Soriano was arrested Tuesday when investigators served search warrants at two residences in Los Angeles and $6,700 in allegedly stolen merchandise was recovered, police said.
Ramirez was being held without bail at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, according to sheriff’s inmate records.
All three were booked for suspicion of organized retail theft and associated crimes, police said.
The investigation continued, and anyone with information was asked to call the Glendale Police Department at 818-548-4911.