Law enforcement at the state and local level have increased their patrols in anticipation of the holiday season, particularly Thanksgiving, in order to prevent any potential retail crimes from occurring.
According to California Highway Patrol commissioner Sean Duryee, those who are enticed to commit retail theft and assume it’s an effortless accomplishment should think twice because the odds are not in their favor.
Assistant Sheriff Holly Francisco of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has stated that their deputies will be focusing on the entire “criminal chain” within the local area. This includes targeting not only the thieves but also the getaway drivers and fences involved in the criminal activity.
According to Francisco, the authorities are not solely targeting individuals responsible for theft incidents, but they are also going after the entire criminal network. This includes apprehending getaway drivers and individuals selling stolen items, either online or in-person.
Over the weekend, a Nike store in Watts was targeted by a group of 17 suspects who made away with shoe boxes and clothes. The suspects, aged between 15 and 20, included four females and 13 males, all of whom had their faces covered with medical masks or other materials. The group made their escape in five separate cars after ransacking the store and causing significant damage.
According to the detective handling the case, the store has been robbed a total of 29 times.
At first, the community members were thrilled to witness the investment in their locality.
Ana Quintanilla, a resident of the community, expressed her excitement about the new investment saying, “This level of investment in our community is unprecedented. We no longer have to travel far to find a Nike store, which is a great convenience.”
The series of robberies left a trail of devastation for many people. Marc Mitchell, a resident, expressed his sorrow over the current situation and stated, “It’s sad that this is what it’s come to.”
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