Organized Retail Crime Taskforce Arrests NR23259ne

Los Angeles: The City of Los Angeles and neighboring cities have recently experienced an increase in “Flash-Mob” method retail crime incidents conducted by multiple suspects targeting retail establishments throughout the Los Angeles region.

On August 21, 2023, the Los Angeles Police Department, and law enforcement partners from Glendale Police Department, Beverly Hills Police Department, Burbank Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Investigation Office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney, formed the Organized Retail Crime Taskforce (ORCT), due to the influx of Organized Retail Crimes involving multiple suspects victimizing retail establishments.

Upon the inception of the ORCT, detectives assumed investigative responsibility of nine cases involving Organized Retail Crimes throughout the City of Los Angeles. Many of these retail theft cases have adopted linkage to other retail crimes which occurred in  neighboring cities.

As of August 23, 2023, ORCT made 11 robbery arrests which were directly related to four of the nine cases the ORCT assumed investigative responsibility for. The four cases are related to the following locations:

1. Versace Store (Beverly Center), located at 8500 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles

2. Warehouse Shoe Store, located at 6251 York Boulevard, Highland Park

3. Nordstrom (Topanga Mall), located at 6600 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Canoga Park

4. Yves Saint Laurent (The Americana at Brand) located at 889 American Way, Glendale

As we continue to seek out additional suspects, anyone with information about these types of incidents or the identity of additional suspects is asked to call the Organized Retail Crime Task Force Detective Arnold at (818) 374-9420. During non-business hours or on the weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-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, for additional information on how to report suspected criminal activity.