San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins has announced the conviction and subsequent sentencing of 32-year-old Bernard Appel for a string of organized retail thefts. Appel was sentenced to two years imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of organized retail theft intending to resell merchandise and two counts of commercial burglary, all involving theft from Lululemon stores. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office stated that Appel must also pay $10,000 in restitution.
1/ Today, DA @BrookeJenkinsSF announced that Bernard Appel was convicted + sentenced to 2 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to 2 counts of organized retail theft w/ the intent to resell merchandise + 2 counts of commercial burglary from Lululemon... pic.twitter.com/xxdBrqa2bE
— SF DISTRICT ATTORNEY (@SFDAOffice) July 19, 2024
"Mr. Appel's conviction and sentence holds him accountable for his brazen crimes and demonstrates that my office takes these cases seriously and will continue to do everything we can to ensure there are consequences for organized retail theft in San Francisco," said DA Jenkins, as cited by the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. She reinforced the message that such crimes impact neighborhoods and businesses harshly and will not be tolerated. Appel was apprehended for thefts from Lululemon stores between July and November 2023, utilizing large bags or reversed coats to abscond with merchandise.
Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Zudekoff, who prosecuted the case, credited the success to the concerted efforts of the San Francisco Police Department's Burglary Unit and the cooperation of Lululemon employees. "Without the cooperation of Lululemon employees and the diligent efforts of the San Francisco Police Department's Burglary Unit, Mr. Appel would not have been identified in this series of thefts," Zudekoff stated, as per the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. Appel has been in custody since his arrest on January 7.
