26 arrests made in retail theft sting in Inland Empire

A two-week retail theft operation led by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department resulted in 26 arrests and the recovery of more than $16,000 in stolen property.

Dubbed “Operation Smash & Grab,” the targeted crime suppression effort ran from Sept. 26 to Oct. 11, focusing on theft crews in major shopping districts across the county.

The operation, conducted in collaboration with multiple agencies, including California Highway Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security, led to six felony arrests and 20 misdemeanor arrests.

Investigators also recovered stolen goods totaling $16,130.26, officials said.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, like law enforcement agencies across the state, has reported a rise in organized retail theft, which often involves groups committing robberies, burglaries, vandalism and indiscriminate shoplifting from store shelves.

“These violent criminals terrorize the citizens of San Bernardino County by utilizing intimidation tactics and a mob mentality that creates an unsafe and uncomfortable shopping environment for our residents,” officials said.

Operation Smash & Grab targets theft rings operating in the shopping districts of Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Victorville and Chino Hills. Investigators employ both “conventional and non-conventional” investigative methods to identify and dismantle the theft groups.

Funding for the operation was authorized by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, providing an increased law enforcement presence with a goal of addressing quality-of-life issues affecting local communities.

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