Baby Formula Thieves Arrested NR16246jh

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police
Department Commercial Crimes Division, Cargo-Hijack Unit detectives
have arrested 27-year-old Joe Lopez and 22-year-old Nick Lopez on
June 30, 2016.

In June of 2016, detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department
Commercial Crimes Division, Cargo-Hijack Unit, along with the Loss
Prevention investigators, began investigating large scale thefts of
infant baby formula from the store’s distribution warehouse in Los
Angeles, California. The thefts from the warehouse totaled over
$50,000.00 in a six week period and were believed to be related to
Organized Retail Crime.

Investigators formulated an investigative strategy and discovered
that a security guard of the distribution warehouse, contracted
through a private company, had allowed a second suspect to enter
the facility after business hours and remove large amounts of
infant baby formula. Their investigation led to a motel in Los
Angeles where the suspects were found to have had over $9,000.00 in
stolen baby formula. Further follow up led to a storage facility
in Sylmar, California, and a residence in Valencia, California,
where investigators identified two additional suspects believed to
be part of an Organized Retail Crime theft ring with Joe Lopez and
Nick Lopez. Detectives seized approximately $11,000.00 in stolen
product and $4000.00 in cash from the two locations for a total of
$24,000.00 in seized product and cash.

(Joe Lopez) (Nick
Lopez)

Organized Retail Crime is responsible for estimated $40 billion
dollars in loss to retailers in the United States every year. This
investigation is an excellent example of the Law Enforcement and
Organized Retail Crime partnerships that exist in an effort to
combat Organized Retail Crime and protect and serve the City of Los
Angeles and its businesses.

Anyone with information on this crime or any other crimes related
to Organized Retail Crimes are asked to contact the Los Angeles
Police Department Commercial Crimes Division, Cargo-Hijack Unit
detective Jeannette Santos at (818) 832-7511. During non-business
hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7
(877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call
Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also
contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637
(C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages
should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to
LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.