The Bakersfield Police Department arrested 14 people and recovered more than $3,100 in stolen merchandise during a retail theft suppression operation at Valley Plaza Mall on Tuesday.
The operation was carried out by the department’s organized retail theft unit in coordination with several major retailers to identify and apprehend individuals suspected of retail theft.
Participating stores included Old Navy, Macy’s, JCPenney, Target, Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollister and Dollar Tree. Police said the focus of the operation was to address organized retail theft and related criminal activity inside the mall…