An Oakland man was arrested last week following a months-long retail theft investigation coordinated by several Bay Area law enforcement agencies, resulting in the recovery of suspected stolen merchandise worth over $326,000.
Octavio Ambriz-Valle, 52, was arrested and booked into Alameda County Jail on charges of organized retail crime, grand theft, possession of stolen property and conspiracy to commit a crime.
The California Highway Patrol on Saturday shared photos of numerous bins of cosmetics, personal care items and other allegedly stolen goods seized by the CHP Golden Gate Division Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) as a result of a joint investigation with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office (SMSO), and the San Ramon Police Department (SRPD).
All three agencies obtained search warrants for two homes in Oakland along with a storage facility connected to the suspected fence. Across the three locations, stolen merchandise from from Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Target, Kohl's, T.J.Maxx, Safeway, Rite Aid and Sunglass Hut valued at more than $326,000 was recovered, along with $12,000 in cash.
In late September of 2023, the sheriff's office arrested several individuals suspected of participating in an organized retail theft ring that targeted a variety of retail stores including Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, and more. SRPD, meanwhile, arrested multiple suspects allegedly involved in "numerous" thefts from local Sephora stores.
Both law enforcement agencies, in the course of their separate investigations, identified a "fence", revealed to be Ambriz-Valle, who was allegedly selling the stolen goods.
Several law enforcement agencies in the Bay, including the @CHP_GoldenGate did a joint operation and recovered suspected stolen merch valued at +$320,000
— ANDRÉS BRENDER (@ANDRESBRENDERTV) April 26, 2024
Octavio Ambriz-Valle, 52, of Oakland was booked into Alameda County Jail on charges of organized retail crime, grand theft,… pic.twitter.com/jjQncXDqTe
--with reporting by TMX
