Where Is All That Stolen Apple Gear Ending Up?

From the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF):

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) today announced the arrest of multiple suspects believed to be part of an organized retail theft ring and the recovery of stolen merchandise.

The investigation began in September 2022, when the CHP Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) in the Bay Area learned of a group committing thefts from Apple retail stores throughout the country, including in California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Georgia, and Alabama.

Due to the thefts, Apple’s overall loss is estimated to exceed one million dollars. On January 19, 2023, the ORCTF, assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, and the Oakland Police Department, executed multiple search warrants throughout the Bay Area which resulted in several suspects being arrested. One suspect, prohibited from possessing firearms, was armed with a semiautomatic handgun at the time of his arrest. Subsequently, an additional suspect responsible for selling suspected stolen merchandise was identified and arrested in Sacramento.

On January 27, 2023, the ORCTF executed multiple search warrants in Sacramento, CA., that resulted in the seizure of hundreds of Apple iPhones, iPads, laptops, and other stolen electronics, as well as approximately $150,000 in cash. All suspects will be charged by the Office of the Attorney General for Organized Retail Crime, Grand Theft, Possession of Stolen Property, and Conspiracy to Commit a Crime.

“I am extremely proud of the efforts of the CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force, and the strides we are making to enhance community safety,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “This significant case is another example of success when law enforcement at the state, local and federal levels partner together, under the leadership of Governor Newsom and his Public Safety Plan, to ensure Californians and businesses feel safe in our communities.”

The CHP’s ORCTF partners with California law enforcement agencies and private industry throughout the state to help combat organized retail theft. Since the ORCTF’s inception in 2019, the CHP has been involved in 1,469 investigations, resulting in 853 arrests, and the recovery of stolen merchandise valued at over 28 million dollars.

The CHP’s mission to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security to those who live and do business in California.

Organized retail theft incidents may be reported to CHP online at: https://www.chp.ca.gov/not…/organized-retail-theft-program