Law enforcement officials have recovered over $800,000 worth of stolen goods and arrested 13 people in a retail theft investigation that spanned several California cities. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), merchandise stolen from stores was found being distributed and sold at flea markets in San Jose, Modesto, Oakland, and Galt.
The CHP Valley Division Organized Retail Crime Task Force led the operation. The investigation began in September after two individuals were suspected of stealing items from stores in Placer County and other areas. Rocklin police conducted a traffic stop involving these suspects in early October and requested assistance from the task force.
As part of their efforts, investigators used surveillance operations to link the suspects to buyers who profited by reselling stolen goods at various flea markets. The investigation resulted in search warrants for six residences, three storage lockers, and a storage lot.
On December 11, a coordinated law enforcement action took place across Oakland, Richmond, San Leandro, and Galt. This led to 13 arrests and the seizure of two firearms, more than $10,000 in cash, five vans, two other vehicles, and two trailers.
Authorities recovered more than 400 boxes and 200 bags filled with stolen merchandise such as household items, cosmetics, clothing, power tools, toys, alcohol, and diapers. All those arrested were booked into Placer County jail.
The recovered goods were processed at Cal Expo with help from affected retailers. Nearly 45,000 items valued at over $800,000 were documented by the task force. The division includes personnel from CHP investigators as well as members of the Sacramento Police Department and Placer County District Attorney’s Office.
Twelve adults from Oakland were taken into custody: Isaid Garcia Chapas (41), Irene Cruz Barragan (35), Daniela Cruz Barragan (33), Robert Lorenzo Luna-Varela (34), Jefferson Isaed Garcia-Rivera (22), Jennifer Garcia Cruz (19), Elan Rosales Montes (35), Claudia Ivet Cruz Barragan (42), Yolanda Carrillo Martinez (45), Ivan Miranda Espinoza (33), Yuridia Sandoval Ramirez (35), and Eryn Wilfred Corea Guevara (29). Bach Ngoc Thi Bui (53) of El Sobrante was also arrested.
According to CHP: “The organized retail crime task force in six years has been involved with more than 4,200 investigations that recovered $68.7 million in stolen goods statewide.”
