$74K In Jewelry Looted From OC Kohl's Friday, 1 Suspect Arrested

SEAL BEACH, CA — A man was arrested for his suspected involvement in a jewelry heist targeting an Orange County retailer while two other suspects remain at large, the Seal Beach Police Department reported.

According to authorities, the Riverside County man was arrested two weeks after the initial burglary in Orange County, when he was detained for "suspicious activity" at another Kohl's department store in the City of Chino.

He was identified as 30-year-old Brandon Libardo Bustos-Bermudez, according to SBPD Lieutenant Julia Clasby.

Authorities were originally called to the Kohl's department store at 12345 Seal Beach Blvd. on Sept. 1 in response to a commercial burglary that had taken place on Aug. 31.

Upon arriving, authorities learned that three men had worked together to steal roughly $73,877 in gold jewelry from the store. Store cameras captured the heist in action and workers were able to provide a detailed description of the three suspects.

According to witnesses, the three men fled the area in a grey BMW sedan. After its license plate was recorded by Kohl's loss prevention officers, a Kohl's internal "Be On the Look Out" memo was created and distributed to all Kohl's stores in the region.

One of the men was found two weeks later visiting another Kohl's department store in Southern California. According to Clasby, authorities were made aware on Friday, Sept. 15, that one of the suspects involved in the Seal Beach robbery was found "acting suspiciously" at a Kohl's in the City of Chino.

Authorities said Bustos-Bermudez was recognized from the Seal Beach commercial burglary and placed under arrested. He was moved to the Orange County Jail by the Seal Beach Police Department.

During a Miranda interview, he admitted involvement in the commercial burglary in Seal Beach on Aug. 31 and confirmed that he was one of the suspects seen in the video footage.

He faces several charges, including: conspiracy to commit a crime, grand theft and burglarly.

“The Seal Beach Police Department is committed to maintaining the safety and security of our community. We take incidents of retail theft seriously and will diligently investigate all such cases. Retail theft not only harms businesses but also impacts the prices consumers pay for goods. Perpetrators of retail theft will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Chief Michael Henderson said.

“We encourage business owners and employees to report any suspicious activity and provide any information that can assist in our investigations. The Seal Beach Police Department commends Kohl’s loss prevention officers who remain diligent in their surveillance and investigations to identify, detain, and prosecute those who commit retail theft.”

This is an ongoing investigation, anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Gibson at (562) 799-4100 ext. 1172 or jgibson@sealbeachca.gov.