Authorities in Southern California have apprehended three individuals and seized approximately $500,000 worth of merchandise stolen from home improvement stores. The arrested suspects, Jose Rivera (54), Fernando Hernandez (43), and Rogelio Ramirez Salgado (45), are facing charges such as organized retail theft, receiving stolen property, and weapons-related offenses. The operation, conducted by investigators from the California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force, targeted a hardware and plumbing supply business on S. Central Avenue in L.A. During the December 11 raid, law enforcement discovered a significant cache of stolen items, including small tools, paint, extension ladders, plumbing fixtures, water heaters, and furnaces.
This successful enforcement action resulted from a month-long investigation into organized retail theft. The recovered stolen goods encompassed both smaller items and more substantial, expensive equipment taken by various individuals, commonly referred to as “boosters,” from home improvement stores. Additionally, investigators seized five firearms and approximately $30,000 in cash during the raid.
In August, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a threefold increase in California Highway Patrol resources dedicated to retail theft cases in the Los Angeles area. This move followed an earlier announcement by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other local leaders, who established a new task force targeting organized retail theft and “flash mob”-style burglaries. The intensified efforts aim to address the rising challenges posed by organized retail crime in the region.