11 individuals connected to recent retail burglaries have been arrested by the Organized Crime Task Force.
Law Enforcement Task Force Cracks Down on Organized Retail Crime Wave in Los Angeles County
A law enforcement task force targeting the organized retail crime wave in the Los Angeles County region has made significant progress in apprehending suspects involved in recent flash-mob burglaries, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
Detectives with the Organized Retail Crime Task Force, formed last week, have been diligently investigating multiple cases of retail crimes throughout the city of Los Angeles.
On Aug. 24, the task force successfully arrested 11 suspects connected to four recent flash-mob burglaries, including incidents at the Versace store at the Beverly Center, the Warehouse Shoe Store in Highland Park, the Nordstrom burglary at the Westfield Topanga Mall, and a theft at Macy’s at the Glendale Galleria.
The LAPD has revealed that many of these thefts are linked to similar retail crimes that have occurred in neighboring cities.
Last week, Ivan Ramirez, 23, was arrested on suspicion of being linked to a Glendale Yves Saint Laurent burglary. Ramirez was one of the suspects seen in a viral video ransacking the store inside the Americana at Brand mall. However, he was released from custody under the county’s no-cash bail policy.
The Glendale Police Department has also announced the arrest of other suspects connected to smash-and-grab robberies and a theft at the Glendale Galleria.
The multi-agency task force, which includes personnel from the Los Angeles, Glendale, Beverly Hills, and Burbank police departments, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, is working tirelessly to combat organized retail crime.
Statewide Retail Crime Arrests
In a separate operation, the California Highway Patrol, along with other law enforcement agencies, arrested over 50 individuals involved in organized retail theft in central California. The arrests resulted in the recovery of more than $60,000 worth of stolen merchandise in the Central Valley region.
The charges against the arrested individuals include organized retail crime, shoplifting, grand theft, petty theft, criminal conspiracy, resisting arrest, possession of burglary tools, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
“Through increased collaborative efforts, retailers and law enforcement have become more efficient and effective in our fight against organized retail crime,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee.
The state’s organized retail crime task force was established in 2019 by Governor Gavin Newsom, who has recently pledged to intensify the crackdown on retail crime in Los Angeles by tripling CHP resources in the region.
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