Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Thursday that 22 people have been arrested for allegedly stealing from cannabis dispensaries across California. The arrests follow a months-long investigation by state and local authorities. They found that the suspects targeted cannabis stores from Sonoma County down to San Diego.
This investigation covered nine months and spanned nine counties, involving 15 separate incidents, said Attorney General Bonta.
According to the Oakland Police Department, 12 of the 22 arrested individuals are from Oakland and are members of local street gangs. Some of these gangs reportedly worked together to commit the crimes.
The suspects were involved in gangs within Oakland, said Deputy Chief Frederick Shavies. We discovered that this criminal operation included multiple gangs collaborating to carry out these thefts.
The Attorney General’s office has charged the 22 suspects with commercial burglary, organized retail theft, and conspiracy.
These are coordinated schemes, Attorney General Bonta explained. “Organized efforts like these harm businesses and pose a threat to our communities.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao noted that this investigation is part of the city’s Ceasefire strategy, which aims to reduce gang violence.
There are about 300 to 350 individuals responsible for these crimes, she said. We know that many of these violent criminals are also the ones committing property crimes, such as stealing catalytic converters and breaking into restaurants.
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