A Southern California man has been arrested and faces charges related to the theft of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, most notably from several Target stores. According to a report by KTLA, Juan Pablo Leal, 40, of Adelanto was taken into custody after a search warrant executed at his residence uncovered an array of stolen items, collectively valued above $15,000.
Target employees initially reported to authorities on July 30 their suspicion of Leal as a serial thief. Reported having left the premises prior to deputies arriving, Leal had also been implicated in a theft from the Apple Valley Target store only five days earlier. In a statement obtained by Nixle, deputies noted that Leal's method involved covering items' barcodes with fraudulent ones, effectively lowering their purchase prices to steal undetected.
On August 6, when the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department conducted their search at Leal's Adelanto home, they found evidence linking him strongly with the crimes. Photos from the search depicted numerous toy cars, and Hot Wheels playsets, among other merchandise. Following his arrest, Leal was transported to High Desert Detention Center, later posting bail and securing release pending a future court appearance.
Leal was arrested for possession of stolen property and, after having been released on bail, faces court proceedings at an undetermined later date. During the course of the investigation, authorities have raised concerns about the resale of stolen goods. In a cautionary note within the arrest's context, the SBSD warned consumers about the allure of discounted products on reseller sites like OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace, which “may be stolen merchandise” and whose sales can inflate retail prices as companies attempt to recoup their losses.
Anyone with more information regarding the case or other similar thefts is encouraged to contact Deputy Vallejo with the Apple Valley Sheriff’s Station or the Sheriff’s Dispatch. Anonymous tips may also be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers or through the We-Tip website.
