Authorities recently uncovered an extraordinary amount of stolen retail merchandise, estimated to be valued at around $190,000, and a stash of $24,000 in cash. The operation, conducted by the California Highway Patrol's (CHP) Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF), has led to the apprehension of a suspect facing charges related to organized retail crime, grand theft, possession of stolen property, and conspiracy to commit a crime, reported by CHP Golden Gate Division on their Facebook page.
The investigation, which commenced last July, stemmed from a lead concerning an alleged illegal fence operating within the city of El Sobrante. It was suspected that stolen retail merchandise was being stored at a residence before being sold at various locations. As the investigation unfolded, the authorities managed to gather sufficient information to procure a search warrant for the suspect's residence.
Yesterday, a team of ORCTF and GGD Investigative Services Unit personnel executed the search warrant at the El Sobrante residence. Once inside, they discovered stolen goods from several renowned retail stores, including Lululemon, CVS, Walgreens, Target, Rite Aid, Express, TJX, Ross, and Victoria's Secret, amongst others. The preliminary estimation placed the value of the recovered merchandise at a staggering $190,000 and, additionally, investigators seized over $24,000 in cash believed to be proceeds from the sale of this stolen merchandise,
The suspect, identified as 52-year-old Ngoc Bui Bach of El Sobrante, was booked into Contra Costa County jail on charges of – Organized Retail Crime, – Grand Theft, Possession of Stolen Property, and Conspiracy to Commit a Crime. According to a report from the National Retail Federation, retail establishments in the United States lose an estimated $30 billion to organized retail crime every year.
