California
Related: About this forumAlmost $200K in stolen items from Bay Area stores recovered
Posting because it underscores the breadth of what has been stolen or can be stolen from retail merchants. $200 grand is a lot of clothing and sundries.
This is a recovery from one "fence"not necessarily the actual thief. Imagine how many more there are out there.
Story from the San Francisco Chronicle:
Investigators with CHPs Organized Retail Crime Task Force recovered around $190,000 worth of stolen merchandise from retailers that included Lululemon, CVS, Walgreens, Target, Rite Aid, Express, TJX, Ross and Victorias Secret at a house in El Sobrante on Thursday, CHP Golden Gate said in a statement following the bust. Officials also seized roughly $24,000 in cash.
Ngoc Bui Bach, 52, was arrested and booked at the Contra Costa County jail on suspicion of organized retail crime, grand theft and possession of stolen property, officials said.
The arrest comes after a month-long investigation into the alleged illegal fencing operation, CHP said.
LINK (paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/retail-theft-bust-lululemon-victorias-secreat-18346022.php
According the article, a warrant to search the home was obtained after receiving a tip.
JohnSJ
(96,551 posts)in jail.
Retailers, large and small have been moving out of SF because of this crap
Roy Rolling
(7,174 posts)Have him sing like a canary about who the actual thieves are.
But arresting the fence is a good start.
Since almost every item manufactured in 2023 has a time/date stamp on it, every item that shows up for resale should be seized.
mahatmakanejeeves
(60,969 posts)Trueblue Texan
(2,926 posts)Is that where Amazon and other online sellers get their merchandise?
3Hotdogs
(13,403 posts)Auggie
(31,802 posts)particularly where Western goods are prized. That's my guess.
oldsoftie
(13,538 posts)When a mob comes in & starts their shit, hit the button & close the gates. Trap them inside for the cops to deal with. If they try to run out a fire exit, they wont be carrying nearly as much with them. A few of those lockdowns happen & they'll start to 2nd guess these attacks. Or do like those jewelry stores owners did the other day.......
And then stop letting them right back out onto the damn streets!
MichMan
(13,200 posts)oldsoftie
(13,538 posts)SOMETHING has to be done or eventually the cities wont have ANY retailers. Doing nothing is only encouraging MORE of it
YDogg
(6,683 posts)The Mouth
(3,285 posts)done by poor people trying to survive and treat it like domestic terrorism and organized criminal activity.
This bullshit of not throwing the book at criminals is not working. This isn't Valhjean stealing bread to eat, these are organized criminals who should be locked up for a long while and made examples of.
Auggie
(31,802 posts)The facts surrounding your case will determine the severity of the charge. This makes Grand Theft a wobbler crime in California. If you're convicted of a felony grand theft, the penalty may be:
A term of up to three (3) years in a state prison; OR, A fine of up to $10,000 (ten-thousand dollars); OR,
Both imprisonment and a fine.
Example: You took someone else's automobile, firearm, or property which was worth more than $950. When you took it, you intended on taking it permanently or removing it for long enough that the owner would lose a major portion of its value or enjoyment of it. Finally, you moved and kept it for some amount of time.
https://www.kannlawoffice.com/california-penal-code-section-459-5-shoplifting#:~:text=If%20you%27re%20convicted%20of,fine%20of%20up%20to%20%2410%2C000.
About Robbery (same link):
Robbery is considered both a serious and violent felony under state law. Thus, it's subject to sentence enhancement under California's Three Strikes system. Three strikes on your record will result in a minimum of twenty-five years in state prison. If you're convicted of first-degree Robbery, the penalty, without enhancement, may be:
A term of up to nine (9) years in a state prison;[30] OR, A fine of up to $10,000 (ten-thousand dollars); OR, Both a fine and imprisonment.
Note: The intent to take property must have been formed before or during the use of force or fear.
One could argue that many of these retail thefts involve some kind of force and/or intimidation of fear. There must be another charge for group stealing, but I don't know what it is.
So there are laws on the books. Cops just have to catch the bad guys, and prosecutors and judges need to by tough.