Eight suspects were arrested after authorities discovered several million dollars worth of stolen merchandise in a Southern California bust.
The massive amount of merchandise was stolen by booster crews from multiple retail stores in California, Nevada and Arizona, according to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.
The retail theft crew transported the stolen items to locations throughout Los Angeles County and sold them to various “fence” operations.
A “crime fence” is an individual or business that knowingly purchases stolen goods and property and then sells the items for profit. Oftentimes, the stolen merchandise can be the result of smash-and-grab robberies and retail thefts.
Locals who shop at hidden fence operations may not be aware that the products were stolen through an organized retail crime operation, police said.
Photos of the large bust showed a variety of stolen goods including over-the-counter medication, cosmetic and beauty products, along with personal and hygiene items. Deputies discovered a large warehouse filled with boxes of stolen items.