LOS ANGELES, CA – Authorities have recovered an estimated $300,000 in suspected stolen merchandise from a storefront in the MacArthur Park area, as part of a targeted retail theft operation conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Officers from the LAPD’s Rampart Division served a search warrant on March 6 at a business near the intersection of 6th and Alvarado streets. The location, which operated under the appearance of a second-hand goods shop, was found to be stocked with a large quantity of retail items believed to have been taken from multiple national chains.
Street People learned that items recovered from the scene included branded merchandise from retailers such as Target, Ross, TJ Maxx, CVS, and Walgreens. Due to the volume of inventory inside the store, police were seen loading boxes of goods into a U-Haul truck for transport.
SP obtained details suggesting that the site may have served as a local hub for fencing operations—where stolen merchandise is resold through seemingly legitimate businesses. One individual working at the store was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property. The suspect’s identity has not been made public, and investigators have not ruled out the involvement of others.
According to insights uncovered by SP, authorities are looking into whether the operation may be tied to broader networks engaged in organized retail theft. The duration of the store’s activity remains under review, and no formal charges have been announced beyond the initial arrest.
The bust comes amid heightened enforcement efforts across Los Angeles County targeting the resale of stolen goods. Over the past year, local and regional task forces have been investigating supply chains that allow for the movement and distribution of merchandise stolen from major retailers and pharmacies.
SP came across indications that several locations in central Los Angeles, including parts of the downtown and Pico-Union corridors, have drawn scrutiny from law enforcement in recent months due to suspected ties to fencing operations.
Authorities are encouraging members of the public and retail employees to report suspicious businesses or resale activity involving branded goods. The LAPD emphasized that community cooperation is vital to disrupting networks profiting from large-scale theft.
The investigation is ongoing.
