Husband and Wife Wanted for $3 Million Retail Rip-Off NR10040rf

Los Angeles:  In early August 2008, detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD), Commercial Auto Theft Section received information that merchandise from a high-end store in Beverly Hills was being rerouted from the store to a personal residence within the City of Los Angeles.  The estimated value of the merchandise was $1,000,000.  Beverly Hills Police Department served search warrants on two Los Angeles homes.  They didn’t find the stolen merchandise connected to the high-end stores but did find name-brand goods from other retailers.

In December 2008, LAPD’s Commercial Auto Theft Section, Cargo Hijack Unit became involved in the investigation and conducted periodic surveillance of the Los Angeles locations.  In August 2009, a consensual encounter between suspects and Cargo Hijack Unit detectives lead to the search and arrest of two suspects and the recovery of sales ledgers, security sensor removers and stolen merchandise valued at $185, 000.  

After detectives from the Cargo Hijack Unit conducted surveillance, they arrested two suspects in November 2009 from the previous August encounter.  During the course of the investigations, one of the suspects led detectives to locations where stolen merchandise was being distributed and later resold on the black market. Detectives conducted search warrants on those locations and recovered over $96,000 in cash and stolen merchandise valued at $2,384,535.  

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed multiple counts on seven suspects and issued warrants for their arrest.  As of January 5, 2010, seven of the nine suspects have been arrested; however, two remain at large.  The two outstanding suspects, Beatrice and Jose De Jesus Carrera, a married couple, agreed to surrender to officials but withdrew their agreement and are wanted by police.

Due to the high value of the stolen property and the elaborate schemes used against the retailers, detectives are asking for the public’s help to locate these fugitives.

Photos of Beatrice and Jose De Jesus Carrera are available from LAPD Media Relations Section at 213-486-5910 or at www.lapdonline.org.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the two outstanding suspects is asked to call the LAPD’s Cargo Hijack Unit at 213-485-2507. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers 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.