In a crackdown against rampant retail theft, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department spearheaded a major operation tagged as "Operation Smash & Grab" at Victoria Gardens Shopping Center, officials said. Ironed out with cooperation from a host of law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations and California Highway Patrol, the operation took place on April 19, 2024, resulting in a haul of felony and misdemeanor arrests.
With a keen eye on organized crime rings accused of intimidating the public, law enforcement made six felony arrests while collaring another seven on misdemeanor charges. According to a report circulated by the department, property worth $10,926.60 was recovered in the sting operation. It's been a fight to hold at bay the band of criminals believed to douse local stores in crime since November last year when the uptick in retail thefts became obvious.
The terror inflicted by these thieves on residents and their shopping experiences, using "intimidation tactics and a mob mentality," is what triggered the response from local authorities, as documented by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. The porous district encompassing Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley, and other neighboring consumer hubs has been under particular focus, with law enforcement aiming to rattle the operations of these theft crews.
Strategies are a mix of old-school sleuthing and clever new tactics, aiming to lessen the "blight created by these bad actors", as described in the department's briefing. San Bernardino County has backed this mission, releasing funds to cover the swell of activity needed to deflate and disrupt the wave of organized retail crime affecting the community's morale and safety.
The Sheriff's department states that this recently implemented wave of funding should strengthen its capacity to uphold public order, keenly addressing the so-called quality-of-life issues that torsion the fabric of county life. For more information, the public can refer to the department's Public Affairs Division, or visit the official report on the operation at San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office.
