Four people charged earlier this month with stealing thousands in clothing from Macy’s in Pasadena are suspected of committing retail thefts in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, police said.

The group, who had Romanian passports, have been linked to 15 other thefts, according to Pasadena Police Lt. Carolyn Gordon. Details about the other crimes have not been released.

“This group could have been doing it for awhile. I would say within the last two months,” she said.

Police do not know yet when the suspects entered the U.S and how long they have been here.

The suspects did not provide statements to police and claimed they could not speak English, she said.

On Sept. 8, Pasadena detectives were conducting an operation on organized retail theft and vehicle burglaries that included businesses within the South Lake Shopping District.

“We were targeting any group that walked into stores (and) was stealing,” Gordon said.

Investigators spotted four people at the Macy’s at 401 S. Lake Avenue. who were choosing “high value clothing items”, a police statement said.

One person concealed the items while hiding behind accomplices and the suspects left the store without paying. Three of the suspects were arrested after a short chase, the statement said.

Police released surveillance video of the suspects in the store.

A fourth person who was in a Suburban tried to flee. He drove directly toward an officer in a police car and narrowly avoided colliding with the officer, the statement said. He was also taken into custody.

The items stolen from Macy’s were recovered, Gordon said.

The suspects pleaded not guilty to grand theft during a Sept. 12 arraignment at Pasadena Superior Court, according to court records. Their next court date is Oct. 17.

Police asked that anyone with information about the case call the detective section at  at 626-744-4522. Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or go to lacrimestoppers.org

Related links

30-person ‘flash mob’ robs store at Americana at Brand mall in Glendale
Dozens of thieves ransack Nordstrom at Canoga Park mall
Smash-and-grab at Riverside jewelry store gets thieves $100K in valuables, police say
‘They pretty much emptied the entire store’ — Irvine jewelry store hit by smash-and-grab robbers
Shoplift bill gives smash-and-grab thieves a green light