A gang of six was busted for allegedly swiping over $3,000 worth of goods from a CVS store on San Francisco's West Side. According to a statement from the office of San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, the suspects were caught following a quick response from an observant off-duty cop.
1/ Today, District Attorney @BrookeJenkinsSF announced that Sedric Lane, Darrell Jones, Aliajah Kingwright, Mya Thompson, Jzelun Brown & Ezaria Hammond were charged in connection to an organized retail theft from CVS on the City’s West Side. pic.twitter.com/9UvbsLa3QN
— SF DISTRICT ATTORNEY (@SFDAOffice) May 31, 2024
The group, consisting of Sedric Lane, 25; Darrell Jones, 23; Aliajah Kingwright, 20; Mya Thompson, 19; Jzelun Brown, 20; and Ezaria Hammond, 19, have each pleaded not guilty to charges including felony commercial burglary, felony grand theft, felony vandalism, and a misdemeanor in organized retail theft. Notably, Lane and Jones were out on bail for another felony matter when they allegedly hit the drugstore chain. “My Office continues to work closely with our partners in the SFPD to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft rings,” District Attorney Jenkins stated. “This type of brazen theft is simply unacceptable, and we will work to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.”
The heist's downfall began when an off-duty San Francisco Police Department sergeant, cruising near the 700 block of Portola Drive, noticed the suspects heading into the CVS with empty bags, only to emerge moments later loaded with stolen goods ranging from makeup and diapers to batteries and vitamins. The observant sergeant’s swift communication with SFPD led to the apprehension of the thieves and the recovery of the pilfered merchandise.
Authorities emphasize that while the suspects have been charged, the investigation is ongoing, and the public can contribute any pertinent leads. San Francisco Police urge those with information to call the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or text TIP411, starting the message with SFPD. Tipsters can remain anonymous, offering insights that might help prevent future thefts and assist in the broader crack-down on organized retail crime plaguing the city.
