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Authorities investigating a retail theft ring arrested a suspected fence in Oakland and recovered nearly $327,000 in stolen products this month, officials said.
The investigation started in September 2023, when the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office arrested several theft suspects accused of targeting several stores.
Investigators with the sheriff’s office then identified a suspect, Octavio Ambriz-Valle of Oakland, who was allegedly fencing the stolen items.
While they worked on the case, San Ramon police arrested two women for allegedly stealing more than $13,000 in cosmetics from a Sephora store in San Ramon, police said.
San Ramon police then identified the same suspected fence already being investigated by the San Mateo Sheriff’s Office.
The two agencies started collaborating with the California Highway Patrol Organized Retail Crime Task Force, building a case, and obtained search warrants for two Oakland homes and an off-site storage container.
About $327,000 worth of stolen items from Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Kohls, TJMaxx, Safeway, RiteAid and Sunglass Hut were recovered from the three locations in Oakland, officials said. In addition $12,196 in cash profits from the operation was also seized.
On April 17, authorities arrested 52-year-old Ambriz-Valle on suspicion of organized retail crime, grand theft, possession of stolen property and conspiracy to commit a crime.