By SDCN Editor
Los Angeles, CA–In a coordinated effort, California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigators cracked down on a sophisticated organized retail theft ring, leading to the arrest of three males and a female.
The suspects, identified as 44-year-old Jeremy Johnson, of Orange, 39-year-old Marta Hardt, of Huntington Beach, 47-year-old Chung-Pei Yu, of Studio City, and 35-year-old Shen Li, of Brea, face charges including organized retail theft, grand theft, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
The arrests were made on April 9 as CHP investigators, part of the Southern Division Organized Retail Crime Taskforce, executed search warrants at four locations across Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The operation uncovered a network of thieves, known as “boosters,” who were stealing merchandise from retailers such as Target, Home Depot, and Lowe’s. The stolen goods were then delivered to separate fences, who sold them for profit.
The ongoing investigation revealed that victim retailers are facing significant losses, with estimates exceeding $300,000. The operation highlights the pervasive nature of organized retail crime, where stolen merchandise is often resold through seemingly legitimate channels.
A “fence,” as described by investigators, is an individual or group that buys stolen retail merchandise and then sells it through various means, often blurring the line between legal and illicit commerce. Buyers of these stolen goods may or may not be aware of their origins in organized retail theft.
The CHP has emphasized its commitment to working with loss prevention partners, allied agencies, and prosecutors to combat organized retail crime in California. The recent arrests underscore the ongoing efforts to disrupt these criminal networks and protect retailers from significant financial losses.
