Authorities in Santa Monica, California arrested two men and a woman for allegedly stealing over $23,000 worth of merchandise in a coordinated retail theft operation, as reported on April 12.
The incident took place at an Ulta beauty store on Wilshire Boulevard in the early hours of March 23. The suspects, six in total, wore masks and used sledgehammers to break into glass display cases holding high-end perfumes. They made off with the stolen goods in two dark vehicles.
According to Santa Monica Police Department spokesperson Lt. Erika Aklufi, evidence suggests that the perpetrators are part of a larger organized crime ring possibly with gang affiliations.
Following a search warrant executed with the LAPD Organized Retail Crime Taskforce, three individuals—Jamari Caleed Mouton (24), Christine Eelayia Walker (21), and Taveon Mekhai Ray (22)—were arrested for burglary and later released with citations based on the L.A. County bail schedule.
Authorities are still looking to apprehend three more suspects involved in the Santa Monica retail theft. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Santa Monica Police Department at 310-395-9951 or email [email protected].
