Home Courts Suspected Gang Members Facing Felony Charges For Serial Tobacco, Sunglass Thefts

Suspected Gang Members Facing Felony Charges For Serial Tobacco, Sunglass Thefts

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Photo Courtesy ContraCosta.news

From the Office of the District Attorney:

Martinez, California – The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed a 33-count felony complaint against eleven members of an Antioch-Pittsburg criminal street gang on conspiracy, grand theft of personal property, second-degree robbery, and other offenses related to the theft of millions of dollars in merchandise.

The charges were filed in Contra Costa Superior Court on April 17th and allege that eleven members of a criminal street gang worked together to steal merchandise from Sunglass Hut locations in Concord, Walnut Creek, San Ramon, and Brentwood. Gang members also stole tobacco products from delivery trucks in Pleasant Hill, Bay Point, and Pittsburg, as well as various items from Chanel, Nordstrom, and Alo Yoga in Walnut Creek. The thefts took place between September 3rd, 2024, and April 2nd, 2025.

On March 27, 2025, Robert Crawford and three other individuals allegedly stole crates of tobacco products from a 7-Eleven in Pleasant Hill. After leaving the scene, Crawford evaded police in a vehicle, ultimately losing control and crashing through a fence at Fremont Elementary School in Antioch. All four occupants fled the scene but were soon apprehended by law enforcement.

Members of the gang are believed to be involved in numerous retail thefts, robberies, stolen vehicles, and frequent dangerous police pursuits throughout the Bay Area.

The felony charges come with enhancements of street terrorism, taking property in concert, and taking property with a value greater than $50,000. Eight individuals are currently in the custody of the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office awaiting to be arraigned on the complaints. The combined bail of the individuals charged is $21,995,140.

District Attorney Diana Becton said, “Organized retail theft incidents require an organized law enforcement response. Our Major Crimes Task Force, under my office’s direction, enables this by coordinating resources to investigate these offenses, ensure accountability for those involved, and safeguard the overall well-being and safety of our communities.”

About the Major Crimes Task Force: The Contra Costa County Major Crimes Task Force (MCTF), is a
collaborative effort led by the District Attorney’s Office, involving the CCC Sheriff’s Office, CCC Probation, and the police departments of Concord, Hercules, San Pablo, and Walnut Creek. Together, these agencies pool resources to investigate major crimes in Contra Costa County. The Antioch, Brentwood, Pittsburg, and San Ramon police departments also played key roles in the investigation and were instrumental in the development of the case that led to charges being filed by the District Attorney’s
Office.

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