HAYWARD – Three Oakland sisters have been charged with running a retail theft ring that recruited groups of thieves to steal specific merchandise from numerous stores that was later sold at the suspects’ homes or online, police said Tuesday.
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More than $300,000 in suspected stolen merchandise from at least 18 stores was recovered when search warrants were served at the suspects’ homes last month, police said.
The suspects were identified by police as Jessenia Rodriguez, 24, Jessica Rodriguez, 27, and Norma Rodriguez, 33. They were arrested Dec. 18 the same day the search warrants were served, police said.
According to court documents, all three have admitted their involvement in the illegal operation.
They were each charged Jan. 14 with organized retail theft in concert with two or more, directing organized retail theft and receiving stolen property, all felonies.
They are each free on $50,000 bail. They were arraigned on the charges Jan. 24 and each pleaded not guilty. They are due back in court March 24 for a pre-trial hearing.
They were arrested as a result of an investigation started by police last summer after retails stores at Southland Mall requested police help to curtail a growing number of grab-and-run thefts that also included some retailers being assaulted.
After police began proactively working to deal with the thefts, they went down considerably.
As an off-shoot to that, Hayward robbery detectives began investigating organized retail theft rings operating in and around Hayward.
It was a result of that investigation that the sisters were identified and and their suspected theft and fencing operation uncovered, police said. Police believe it had been in operation for at least a year. .
Police said they were using their homes in Oakland in the 1900 block of 90th Avenue and the 1500 block of 78th Avenue as their base of operations to store, advertise and sell stolen items, including clothing, cosmetics, appliances, tools and electronics. Outdoor stores were built in both backyards, complete with shelving, clothing racks, display cases and shopping bags, according to police and court records.
Police said surveillance revealed entire families purchasing stolen merchandise, which was being sold at huge discounts. Property was also being sold out of the homes and on Facebook Marketplace, police said.
Police said thieves recruited by the sisters were given specific merchandise to steal which would be done at stores in Hayward and throughout the Bay Area.
Among the stores targeted in different cities were Macy’s, Target, JC Penny, Home Depot, and Victoria’s Secret, authorities said.
After stealing items the thieves would go to the Oakland homes where they would sell the items for cash. A typical event could range from $5,000 to $10,000 worth of stolen merchandise, police said.
Oakland and San Jose police assisted in the investigation,Hayward police said.
Check back for updates.
Staff writers Rick Hurd and Angelia Ruggiero contributed to this report.