4 jewelry store robberies cost businesses $1.5 million – NBC 7 San Diego

Four suspects who allegedly committed a series of thefts and burglaries at high-end jewelry stores, resulting in losses of more than $1.5 million for the businesses, have been arrested and charged in San Diego County, he said. -we announced on Friday.

The crimes occurred in April and May at stores in San Diego, Orange, Riverside and Kern counties, according to the California Attorney General's Office.

At a news conference Friday morning, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said there were 21 separate thefts, most of which took place in San Diego County.

Defendants in the criminal complaint were 31-year-old Rodney Allen Flynt, Sr., 32-year-old Michael Anthony Jones, Jr., 27-year-old Christopher Shawn Pate, and 31-year-old Ryan Keith Pate.

“These are not victimless crimes,” Bonta said. “These thefts harm businesses large and small and pose a danger to workers and the public.”

Bonta said thieves often pose as customers, ask to see specific jewelry, then grab the items and run away. Some stores were robbed outside opening hours.

Affected stores include Banter, KAY Jewelers, Zales, Marc Jacobs and JCPenney, among others.

Although Bonta did not speak about the specific locations of each store, the case was jointly investigated by the San Diego Police Department, the Carlsbad Police Department, the Chicago Police Department Escondido, El Cajon Police Department, National City Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department and Bakersfield Police. Department, Riverside County Sheriff's Department and the California Department of Justice Retail Organized Crime Task Force.

Lt. Shaun Lawton of the Carlsbad Police Department said the thieves were looking for gold chains in all three Carlsbad robberies.

NBC 7 also confirmed that at least two robberies took place in El Cajon and three other robberies took place in National City, including at a JCPenny. Pennys stores in San Diego and Chula Vista were also affected.

Bonta said the four suspects arrested this week were all those involved in this particular operation. The charges filed this week include counts of organized retail theft, grand theft, burglary and grand theft.

“Organized theft groups that profit from these crimes have become more numerous, more violent, and continue to have a negative and destructive effect on society,” said Christopher Davis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations. San Diego. “These criminals harm our communities by impacting local businesses and our overall sense of safety.