Law enforcement officers in Southern California have recovered an astonishing $4 million in stolen merchandise from major retailers like Target, Nordstrom, and TJ Maxx in a large-scale retail theft bust.
According to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and the county’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF), seven suspects were charged with stealing items such as apparel, luxury handbags, beauty products, fragrances, over-the-counter medications, and scented candles from 17 stores in Los Angeles and South Gate in February.
Other retailers impacted include Ulta Beauty, CVS, Walgreens, Macy’s, and Bath & Body Works. The recovered goods will be returned to the stores.
By working with the affected retailers, authorities were able to track the thefts and obtain a search warrant for multiple locations where the stolen merchandise was being stored. The Sheriff’s Information Bureau described these locations as “retail” establishments.
The arrested suspects include both “boosters”—who stole the goods—and “fences,” individuals who resell stolen merchandise through online platforms, swap meets, or unauthorized retail stores. Law enforcement also seized a significant amount of cash during the raid.
Authorities have not yet released the suspects’ identities or confirmed whether additional individuals are being pursued. Those arrested face charges including organized retail theft, grand theft, and receiving stolen property.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) conducted a separate sting operation at a retail location in the Westlake neighborhood near Downtown L.A., recovering $300,000 in stolen goods.
The stockroom contained items such as sneakers, apparel, accessories, and beauty products from stores like TJ Maxx, Target, Ross, CVS, and Walgreens. The store’s operator was arrested for receiving stolen property.
These crackdowns follow recent legislative changes targeting retail crime. In November, California voters approved Prop. 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, by a 70 percent margin.
This new law revises elements of Prop. 47, which in 2014 raised the felony shoplifting threshold to $950. Now, individuals with two prior theft-related convictions can face felony charges for petty theft or shoplifting.
Additionally, Governor Gavin Newsom signed 11 retail theft bills into law last fall, addressing organized retail crime, online marketplaces selling stolen goods, and violent offenses such as smash-and-grabs and property destruction.
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