IE Pair Arrested In $123K Beauty Product Theft Ring In Lake Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Two Ontario residents were arrested Thursday following months of retail beauty supply and clothing thefts in Lake Elsinore.

Giovanni Munoz-Leon, 51, and Nury Herrera, 32, were behind bars on suspicion of multiple felonies, including grand theft, organized retail crime theft, and conspiracy, according to jail records. Each was being held on over $50,000 bail.

Munoz-Leon is held at the Southwest Detention Center, while Herrera is currently held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility. Both she and Munoz-Leon will appear in court on Monday at the Murrieta Southwest Justice Center.

Though the investigation into the stolen beauty products began in August, officers soon learned that beauty supply thefts occurred throughout the summer.

"On Aug. 28, deputies from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff's Station responded to a beauty supply store regarding a grand theft," Sgt. Robert Thomas said. Workers told the deputies that a man and woman entered the store, selected $3,000 worth of products and left without paying.

"The Lake Elsinore Robbery/Burglary Team assumed the investigation and learned on September 28, 2024, that the same suspects returned to the store in Lake Elsinore and stole an additional $2,000 worth of beauty products," he said.

Deputies and investigators collaborated with the beauty store's employees. Though details of that investigation remain under wraps, Thomas said investigators believe the suspects were responsible for over 50 similar retail thefts from June to October in California, totaling $123,000 in merchandise.

This is an ongoing investigation, and no further details are available. Anyone with information about this investigation should contact Deputy Noel at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station: 951-245–3300.