Law enforcement authorities announced details Thursday of a sprawling cannabis dispensary retail theft crime ring bust, a case they said spanned nine counties over nine months.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, center, is flanked by local and regional law enforcement personnel during a Thursday morning press conference at Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Headquarters in Live Oak to announce charges against suspects allegedly engaged in organized retail crime. LIVE OAK —
In an effort dubbed “Operation Sticky Fingers,” Bonta said 22 men were arrested last month in connection with 15 break-ins. A large portion took place in Santa Cruz County, he said, meaning the local superior court is set to handle the legal proceedings. Last week,“Instead of bringing multiple cases in multiple counties, we centralized it here in Santa Cruz County,” Bonta said, praising the collaborative work of multiple law enforcement agencies and partners.
While the charged retail thefts took place outside of Alameda County, the Oakland Police Department played a significant role in breaking the case, authorities said Thursday. The agencies’ Bureau of Investigations deputy chief, Frederick Shavies, opened its investigation into the large-scale thefts in February for crimes he said spanned mid-2023 through July.
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