CHP busts $715K retail theft ring; Pittsburg man arrested
PITTSBURG – More than $700,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered and an East Bay man was arrested in connection with a Bay Area retail theft ring, authorities said Wednesday.
According to the California Highway Patrol's Golden Gate Division, investigators with the Organized Retail Crime Task Force served search warrants at a home in Pittsburg and at a nearby storage facility. During the search of the home, investigators discovered stolen merchandise and arrested a 45-year-old suspect.
"The task force, in collaboration with the retail industry and our allied agency partners, is identifying these organized rings and making our communities safer," Division Chief Christ Costigan said in a statement posted on social media on Wednesday.
Investigators also learned the suspect had leased several storage units nearby. A second search warrant was obtained and additional stolen merchandise was found, the CHP said.
The stolen items were from multiple retailers, including CVS, Target, Rite Aid, Safeway, Sunglass Hut, Macy's, Total Wine & More and Lululemon. Investigators said the items were linked to thefts throughout California and have a value of at least $715,000.
"We're not talking MacBooks and iPhones and things like that in this specific instance," CHP Officer Andrew Barclay told KPIX 5. "If you saw those pictures - we're talking about small items from CVS - so to give an idea of the quantity of items that have been recovered so far, it's high. It's a lot of product."
The suspect, identified as Julio Cuellar of Pittsburg, was booked into the Solano County Jail on charges of organized retail theft and conspiracy.
It was not immediately known when Cuellar would appear in court on the charges.
Rachel Michelin with the California Retailers Association says while most people became aware of organized retail crime when criminals piggybacked off the George Floyd protests, the problem has been going on for years.
"We are hopeful the state legislature and the governor will sign in the state budget additional funding," said Michelin. "We are advocating for two additional ORC task forces in California. We are pushing for dedicated prosecutors. "
Anyone with information on organized retail theft is asked to contact the CHP on their website.
Andria Borba contributed to this report.