Police Recover $218K in Stolen Merchandise From Backyard Of LA Home

LOS ANGELES -- More than $210,000 worth of stolen merchandise was recovered and 10 people were arrested in connection with a retail theft fencing operation, police say.

Authorities with the California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Theft Task Force announced the arrests and recovery of the goods on Sept. 20.

On Sept. 13, CHP partnered with LAPD’s newly formed Los Angeles Organized Retail Crime Task Force, to investigate the fencing operation, which was selling stolen retail merchandise at LA area swap meets, according to a new CHP news release.

A “fence” is either a person or people who buy merchandise stolen during smash-and-grab robberies and organized retail thefts and then sell the goods online, at swap meets or elsewhere.

Investigators located the operation, which was being run out of the backyard of a private residence. At the scene, CHP and LAPD officers found goods stolen from Victoria’s Secret, Amazon, CVS, Rite Aid and Ralphs stores in the greater L.A. area totaling an estimated $218,379. Investigators also seized nearly $45,000 in cash as evidence.

The 10 suspects arrested were only described as three females and seven males from the South LA area.