The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said it filed nearly 200 cases related to organized retail theft last year.
The charges are part of county and statewide efforts to crack down on the growing number of retail thefts and smash-and-grab burglaries. Regional law enforcement agencies have created specialized task forces to track down and arrest those who take part in the crimes.
District Attorney George Gascón held a press conference Thursday to discuss the cases and what was accomplished in 2023.
In a news release issued later in the day, Gascón said retail thefts were not victimless crimes, saying that they cause financial losses to retailers and local businesses while damaging the “community’s sense of security while shopping.”
“We want businesses to succeed and for Angelenos to feel safe while they’re out in public. Filing these cases is just the beginning of my office’s work toward deterring these types of crimes in order to make Los Angeles County a safer place,” Gascón said, adding that his office is committed to helping law enforcement track down those responsible and ensure they are held accountable.
The cases were filed between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023 and involved adults and juveniles, the D.A.’s Office said.
The majority of the cases involve multiple defendants who worked together to steal from stores with the intent to sell what they took. Those circumstances qualify the crimes as felonies, officials said.
While some cases are pending, sentences can range from probation to state prison.
Stores that have been targeted and were victims in the cases include the 99 Cents Only Store, American Eagle, Kohls, Macy’s, Nike, Nordstrom, Old Navy, Sephora, Target, Ulta and Victoria’s Secret. Small businesses are also among those cases.
The D.A.’s Office said it has worked with law enforcement partners to recover and return millions of dollars worth of stolen goods to retailers. Two of the largest busts involved $188,000 worth of product returned to Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills and $250,000 in merchandise recovered and given back to Kevin Jewelers.
Target and CVS also had hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stolen goods returned last year.
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore said the regional task force to curb retail theft has “restored much” of the feeling of safety and security taken away from L.A. residents and business owners.
“I am proud of the hard work and dedication to public safety of those not only from the Los Angeles Police Department, but our partnering agencies as well,” Moore said. “As public servants, we cannot work in silos; we cannot work alone. Public safety belongs to all of us.”
One of those partner agencies is the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Since it was established, the Sheriff’s Organized Retail Crimes Task Force has arrested 438 suspects related to retail theft, with 309 cases successfully filed, according to LASD Major Crimes Bureau Captain Rob Peacock.
Peacock says it’s not just the shoplifters who are being targeted by local law enforcement.
“We are not only focused on the individuals responsible for the thefts, but those that are in the criminal chain—the getaway drivers, those that harbor them, and those that sell the stolen merchandise,” he said. “These individuals need to understand that there will be consequences—we will use all our resources to identify, pursue, and arrest these suspects.”
As retail crime thefts continue to be a problem across the Los Angeles area, authorities are asking for the public’s help to bring a stop to them.
Anyone with information about these types of crimes in L.A. County is encouraged to contact the LAPD Organized Retail Theft Task Force by email or by calling at 818-374-9420. The LASD Organized Retail Crime Task Force can be reached by email or at 562-946-7270.
Anonymous tips can be made online or by calling 800-222-8477.