Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
More than $200,000 in merchandise stolen from Southern California retail stores recovered in operation of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Organized Retail Theft Task Force.
The authorities reported that during the operation 10 suspects involved in a “fence” operation related to the stolen items were also arrested.
The CHP said that On September 13, he partnered with the newly formed Organized Retail Crime Task Force led by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to investigate the sale of stolen items to retail stores. that were held at exchange meetings in the city of Los Angeles.
A “fence” is a person or group of people who purchase stolen merchandise during mass robberies and organized retail store robberies.known as “flash mob” or “smash and grab” type crimes, and are subsequently offered as an apparently legal business, online or at swap meets.
The researchers They managed to locate the “fence” operation, which was taking place from the backyard of a private residence. and where the stolen merchandise was protected under tents and inside a truck.
At the scene, CHP and LAPD officers found items that had been stolen from Victoria’s Secret, Amazon, CVS, Rite Aid and Ralphs stores in the greater Los Angeles area.
It was estimated that The recovered merchandise had an estimated value of $218,379 dollars.
The researchers They also seized nearly $45,000 in cash.and which were delivered as evidence.
The 10 suspects arrested only They were described as seven men and three women from the Compton neighborhood of South Los Angeles..
“The CHP is committed to aggressively investigating retail organized crime activity in the Los Angeles region and throughout California,” authorities said in a statement.
The Board of State and Community Corrections approved an Organized Retail Theft Grant Program, in which $267 million dollars will be allocated to 55 cities and counties in California to combat this type of crime.
Keep reading:
· With blows, kicks and sticks, jewelry employees in El Monte scare away an alleged thief
· Glendale Police Release Mass Robbery Suspect After Arresting and Booking Him
· Those responsible for massive robberies face organized crime charges, says prosecutor Gascón