Los Angeles' battle against a surge in organized retail theft took a leap forward as two juveniles were nabbed by the Los Angeles Police Department's Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF), as per a recent LAPD newsroom announcement. The juveniles, part of a wider web of thieves terrorizing local stores, were captured on February 29 during operations spanning Lancaster and Palmdale.
Wanted for a series of crimes across Los Angeles and its suburbs, the young suspects—one aged 17 and another 18, who committed the crimes while still a minor—were cuffed for robbery under California Penal Code 211 and booked at the Van Nuys Jail. With the juveniles' arrest, the ORCTF total arrests ticked up to 34 for the year, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
These cases are now in the hands of the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, awaiting charging decisions. With the ORCTF not slacking on its heels, the task force hints at more looming cuffs and perp walks, as they are hot on the trail of additional suspects linked to the retail theft epidemic, as per the Los Angeles Police Department.
The task force, clawing at the roots of this rampant criminal activity, is far from resting its case. The community, which serves as both the victim and witness to these acts, is being called upon to provide tips. They can reach out directly to the ORCTF via email at [email protected] or dial 1-877-LAPD-24-7 for a 24-hour response, as it's mentioned in the LAPD report. For those wishing to hold on to their anonymity, Crime Stoppers accepts tips at 1-800-222-TIPS.
