$1M In Stolen Shoes, Backpacks Recovered In Chatsworth Cargo Theft Bust: Police

CHATSWORTH, CA — A Chatsworth business owner was arrested Wednesday after police recovered $1 million worth of stolen shoes and backpacks during a cargo theft investigation, according to authorities.

The investigation began after detectives discovered stolen Brooks shoes from a Disney collaboration being sold on eBay, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

A controlled purchase of the stolen shoes led investigators to a business called DesignerDeals4Less, police said.

On Wednesday, detectives served a search warrant at the business on the 21000 block of Nordhoff Street in N, where they recovered 35 pallets of merchandise stolen from BNSF Railway trains, according to the LAPD.

The stolen merchandise included Brooks, Hoka, New Balance, Adidas, On and Salomon shoes, along with JanSport backpacks, police said.

During the search, detectives questioned the business owner, who admitted to purchasing the stolen merchandise from unauthorized distributors, according to police.

The owner, identified as 51-year-old Heros Tasci of Simi Valley, was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property and booked at Van Nuys Jail, according to the LAPD.

The operation involved the LAPD's Cargo Theft Task Force, BNSF Police, Union Pacific Railroad Police, Alameda Belt Line Police, Los Angeles Port Police, Los Angeles World Airports Police, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations.

The investigation remains ongoing, police said.