Los Angeles has witnessed a coordinated crackdown on retail crime following a series of grand thefts. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the arrest of two individuals involved in a string of thefts tallying losses upwards of $10,700. The first reported incident occurred on March 22 at a store on East 4th Street, where the culprits inflicted a loss of over $1,500.
On June 11, the Organized Retail Crimes Task Force acted swiftly to not only arrest 19-year-old Haleni Sitani and 20-year-old Aniyah Mitchell but also to serve search warrants on their residences, as per the LAPD. Investigators were able to swiftly recover a firearm, a loaded high-capacity magazine, and various stolen merchandise. Sitani now faces a robbery charge with bail set at $50,000, while Mitchell has been booked on a grand theft charge, currently held with zero bail.
The police efforts to fully dismantle this operation continue as they actively seek a third suspect. Described as a male Hispanic, around five feet six inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, he was last seen sporting a "Nike" sweatshirt and black sweatpants, as detailed by the LAPD. Moreover, a black Nissan Sentra has been associated with multiple crimes the group committed. Community members have been urged to come forth with any relevant information, which can be relayed to the Organized Retail Crimes Task Force via email, or anonymously through the LA Regional Crime Stoppers line and the “P3 Tips” mobile application.
