Roseville, California – In a truly unusual case that highlights the growing scale and coordination of organized retail theft in California, Roseville police say they’ve unraveled an elaborate scheme involving the mass theft of deodorant and other toiletries from chain stores across Northern California.
Dubbed “Operation Pit-Stain,” the investigation culminated this week with the arrest of three individuals in the San Francisco Bay Area. Authorities say the suspects are responsible for stealing tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of personal hygiene products — including more than $15,000 in deodorant alone — from Safeway and CVS locations in Roseville during March and April. Their operation extended beyond city limits, with additional thefts reported at retail stores throughout the region.
Investigators allege that the two main suspects, who have not yet been publicly named, systematically shoplifted large quantities of merchandise, focusing on high-demand hygiene products such as deodorant, shampoo, and toothpaste. The suspect then sold the stolen goods to a third party who knowingly purchased the items and resold them at flea markets in the Bay Area…