One REI store in San Francisco is at the center of numerous retail thefts resulting in at least eight arrests in recent months, police said.
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) on Tuesday announced five arrests connected to repeated thefts at the REI store on Brannon Street. The five people arrested in September were allegedly responsible for a total of $19,000 in stolen merchandise.
The arrests follow three other arrests announced in August for thefts at the same location. The store is such a hotbed of theft, the SFPD Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Task Force has been working with REI representatives since May to apprehend “multiple habitual thieves working independently.”
Henry Le, 28, was arrested Sept. 6 on theft and burglary charges. Police linked him to 11 incidents between July 29 and Aug. 31 in which nearly $6,000 worth of Yeti merchandise was allegedly stolen.
San Francisco Police Department
Benjamin Buckingham, 36, was arrested Sept. 23 on burglary and grand theft charges. Investigators accused him of stealing approximately $3,900 worth of duffel bags during three visits to the store between Aug. 4 and Aug. 31.
Piero Alioto, 44, was arrested Sept. 28 on multiple theft and drug charges, while Antonio Stewart, 56, was arrested Sept. 30 on theft charges. Police said the two men were allegedly responsible for five incidents between June 15 and Sept. 8 that resulted in losses exceeding $2,400.
Daniel De La Rosa, 37, was also arrested Sept. 30 after REI employees allegedly saw him return to the store for a seventh time and contacted police. Officers arrested De La Rosa as he carried unpaid merchandise outside and recovered $1,286.78 in goods, police said. Investigators linked him to seven incidents between July 1 and Sept. 30 involving more than $6,700 worth of merchandise.
Along with REI, police said the ORC Task Force has developed similar relationships with other retailers. The department made 874 arrests for retail theft between April and September, marking a 22% increase over the prior six months. The department has recovered more than $418,000 in stolen merchandise over the last year.
This story San Francisco REI Store A Hotbed Of Retail Theft As 5 New Arrests Announced first appeared on National Enquirer. Follow National Enquirer on Yahoo so you don’t miss what’s coming next.