A California lady was arrested after being caught in possession of more than $450,000 in stolen property.
Claudia Cruz, 35, has been charged with organized retail crime, possession of stolen property, and conspiracy to conduct crime for her alleged role in a fencing operation, according to a Facebook post by the California Highway Patrol.
Last month, the California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Crime Taskforce (ORCTF) launched an investigation into a criminal network responsible for a string of thefts targeting numerous Bay Area stores.
Investigators discovered suspects suspected of being involved in an illegal fencing enterprise centered in Oakland, where thieves buy and sell stolen goods.
Using the information gathered, officers obtained search warrants for a home and several vehicles. The search warrants were served on August 15 with the assistance of the San Ramon Police Department.
During the search, authorities discovered a considerable amount of stolen property, which was seized and transported to a facility to be documented.
During the search, detectives discovered that Cruz had leased a storage facility in Oakland. Investigators discovered additional stolen items after obtaining a new search warrant for the storage facility.
The stolen item was believed to be worth more than $450,000 and consisted primarily of commodities sold in drugstores.
Cruz was ultimately arrested and brought into the Alameda County Jail.