State Attorney General Rob Bonta on Tuesday announced the filing of more than 27 felony charges against three men allegedly involved in an organized retail crime operation that targeted high-end stores in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Alameda and Santa Clara counties resulting in more than $300,000 in losses.
The investigation included personnel from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Organized Retail Task Force in collaboration with the San Diego Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Costa Mesa Police Department, Newport Beach Police Department, Livermore Police Department and Palo Alto Police Department.
The California Department of Justice filed charges including organized retail theft, robbery and grand theft against Isaiah Abdullah, 26, Ishmael Baptist, 25, and Nickolas Mallory, 26.
The suspects allegedly conducted smash-and-grab style thefts by running into the stores, grabbing purses and other expensive items before running out, according to Bonta. The suspects allegedly ripped the bags off displays even when the items were connected to displays with locks.
Merchandise was stolen from Burberry, Prada, Sunglass Hut, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Michael Kors, Gucci, Coach, Versace, and Maison Margiela, worth about $310,000.
“Organized retail theft harms businesses, retailers, and consumers —and puts the public at risk,” Bonta said at a news conference Tuesday morning at LAPD headquarters.
“Organized retail crime has been plaguing our state for far too long,” Bonta said. “I want to thank our local law enforcement partners for their work in apprehending the suspects in this case. The California Department of Justice and its partners will continue fighting to keep our communities, businesses and consumers safe from retail theft and other crimes.”
Bonta was accompanied at the news conference by law enforcement personnel including LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton, the department’s chief of detectives.
“The Los Angeles Police Department values the partnership of our local and state partners, as organized retail theft crime is no longer local, rather regional,” Hamilton said.
“A strong economy and a feeling of safety should not be disrupted in any community by a delinquent few,” Hamilton continued. “We will continue to strengthen public safety and build trust with our businesses and consumers alike, through the incredible work of our local and regional partners.”
Investigators seized five firearms, according to Bonta, who urged people with information on such crimes to submit complaints and tips at https://oag.ca.gov/bi/retail-crime.