Golden State Today

The state's organized retail crime task force announced the results of two operations targeting organized retail crime rings, leading to numerous felony arrests and the recovery of more than $850,000 in stolen retail items.

Governor Gavin Newsom praised the efforts of the California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force for dismantling organized retail theft rings in Orange and Alameda counties. Officers seized nearly $850,000 in stolen merchandise and made multiple felony arrests.

“Our organized retail crime task force throughout the state is cracking down on criminal organizations and holding thieves and resellers accountable. I thank our CHP officers and law enforcement partners for their work to ensure communities are safe and our businesses are protected. These arrests and operations should put criminals on notice — we won’t tolerate retail theft and will take you down,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

The California Highway Patrol has dedicated organized retail theft teams in Orange County, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area that collaborate with retailers to combat retail crime across the state. This month, Governor Newsom signed landmark legislation to strengthen California’s retail theft and property crime laws, including bills to maintain important organized retail crime statutes and extend the task force's authorization beyond 2026. Since January, the task force has made 884 arrests and seized stolen goods valued at over $7.2 million.

Last week, the task force announced significant outcomes from two specific operations:

**Bay Area Operation**

Following a month-long investigation into a criminal network in the Bay Area, the task force recovered over $450,000 in stolen merchandise from an Oakland residence and storage facility. The operation revealed suspects involved in an illegal fencing scheme targeting drug stores. Authorities arrested the leader of this operation on charges including organized retail crime, possession of stolen property, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

**Orange County Operation**

In southern California, an ongoing operation led to uncovering an organized retail theft ring involving nearly $400,000 in stolen merchandise as well as counterfeit items being sold at an open-air market in Torrance. An Inglewood man along with a father-daughter duo were charged with multiple felonies after officers arrested them; they face charges including receiving stolen property, organized retail theft, sale of counterfeit items, grand theft, and conspiracy.

Today’s announcement aligns with Governor Newsom’s broader efforts to enhance public safety throughout California—including cities like Oakland, Bakersfield, and San Francisco. Since 2019, California has invested $1.1 billion towards fighting crime by helping local governments hire more police officers and improve public safety measures. In 2023 alone—under California’s Real Public Safety Plan—the Governor announced unprecedented investments aimed at combating organized retail crime statewide through proactive operations.