Anaheim Business Owner Arrested Monday (Sat. Search Warrant Nets $450K in Stolen Trademark Plastic Products)
(Photos - Click on the hyperlink at the bottom of this message)
UPDATE:
Anaheim Business Owner Arrested Monday (Sat. Search Warrant Nets $450K in Stolen Trademark Plastic Products)
After 10:00AM on Monday, July 2, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators with the Industry Station Plastic Industrial Theft Task Force returned to So Cal Plastics, a business in Anaheim.
Deputies arrested Hector Palacios, a 31 year old resident of Tustin and owner of the business. He is being held in custody in lieu of $450,000.00 bail for felony Receiving Stolen Property.
On Saturday, June 30, deputies had arrested four male employees at the business for felony Receiving Stolen Property, each of whom had a bail set at $20,000.00
Jose Torres, a 27 year old resident of Santa Ana
Candido Aviles, a 31 year old resident of Anaheim
Juan Aldana, a 32 year old resident of Santa Ana
Julio Solano, a 29 year old resident of Garden Grove (Released on bond on June 30, 2012)
(See below for first news release)
Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
4700 Ramona Blvd., Monterey Park CA 91754
Office: 323-267-4800
http://www.lasd.org
SHBNewsroom@lasd.org
www.Nixle.com
http://nixle.com/lasd----hq-newsroom-shb-los-angeles-county-sheriff/
Twitter @LASD_News http://twitter.com/#!/LASD_News
http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment
***
First News Release sent: Sun, July 1, 2012, 10:39AM
Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department “Plastic Industrial Theft Task Force,” assigned to Industry Sheriff's Station, served a search warrant on Saturday morning, June 30, at “So Cal Plastics,” located in the city of Anaheim, Orange County.
The location on Knollwood Circle in Anaheim was alleged to be a site where stolen trademark plastic products were being stowed and ground to make them untraceable.
Approximately $450,000.00 in stolen trademark plastic products were found Saturday, some in ground state, while some were still intact.
In addition, equipment and machinery used in grinding the stolen plastic products were seized.
Four male Hispanic suspects were arrested in connection with the felony theft and possession of the stolen products. At this time, the investigation is ongoing, since other possible suspects involved remain at large.
"Plastic trademark products are often stolen from the loading docks behind businesses throughout Los Angeles County and the entire region," said Sergeant Nabeel Mitry, Industry Sheriff's Station Industrial Plastic Theft Task Force. "Additionally, either employees steal the plastics themselves, or leave them in a place outside the business so their crime partners can pick them up."
Most of the stolen/recovered plastics were pallets, trays, shelves, baskets, and totes (collapsable crates) from grocery stores, pizza places, bakery industry, restaurants, beverage companies, and shipping and receiving companies.
Over $5 million in stolen trademark plastic has been recovered in the past year alone by the Sheriff's Industrial Plastic Theft Task Force," said LASD Industry Sheriff's Station Captain Mike Claus.
"The victims of these thefts are hard working businesspeople contributing products and services to their customers as well as jobs to the economy. The enormous cost to businesses as a result of these thefts is ultimately paid by consumers through increases in prices for goods and services."
"Clearly, the enormity of the loss just in Los Angeles County could easily exceed $10 million dollars a year. I have been contacted by Los Angeles County and even worldwide global businesses who have made it clear that this is an epidemic that had never been addressed. These businesspeople are grateful that the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has taken a leadership role in addressing this issue and educating the public about it. While expressing gratitude, some businesses owners explained that their losses had been so huge, that had the thefts continued, they most likely would have had to go out of business."
"We will continue to find these stolen products and return them to their rightful owners, and the people responsible will be arrested and addressed by the criminal justice system," said Captain Claus.
If you have any information about the theft or location of possible stolen industrial plastics, please contact:
Sergeant Nabeel Mitry
Plastic Industrial Theft Task Force
Industry Sheriff's Station
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, www.Industry.lasd.org
(626) 773-2060
(626) 330-3322
Or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
This is the lastest in the ongoing efforts of the LASD - Industry Sheriff's Station Industrial Plastic Theft Task Force. Below are links to descriptons and photos of several other major arrest and recovery operations over the past year:
LASD's Plastic Industrial Theft Task Force Make Arrests & Recover Stolen Plastic Worth Thousands of Dollars (March 2012, Bell Gardens and South Gate)
http://sheriff.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/lasd/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3hLAwMDd3-nYCN3M19LA0_nEDPvMJMAQ39jA_2CbEdFAFVdgp4!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/lasd+content/lasd+site/home/home+top+stories/plastic_arrest_industry_task_force
Task Force Recovers $250,000 in Stolen Plastic Trademark Products Discovery (Dec. 2011, South LA)
http://sheriff.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/lasd/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3hLAwMDd3-nYCN3M19LA0_nEDPvMJMAQ39jA_2CbEdFAFVdgp4!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/lasd+content/lasd+site/home/home+top+stories/plastics_theft
L.A. Sheriff's Task Force Recovers $1/2 million in Stolen Plastic. One Arrested for Plastic Grinding Operation (Oct. 26, 2011, Compton)
http://sheriff.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/lasd/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3hLAwMDd3-nYCN3M19LA0_nEDPvMJMAQ39jA_2CbEdFAFVdgp4!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/lasd+content/lasd+site/home/home+top+stories/industry_plastic_thefts_
$2 million in stolen plastic and $120K in marijuana recovered: Investigators with the United States Postal Service are seeking federal prosecution of the suspects involved in this case. (Oct. 10, 2011, Compton):
http://sheriff.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/lasd/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3hLAwMDd3-nYCN3M19LA0_nEDPvMJMAQ39jA_2CbEdFAFVdgp4!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/lasd+content/lasd+site/home/home+top+stories/2m+in+stolen+plastic++120k+marijuana+recovered+four+arrested
During 2011-2012 the Sheriff's Industrial Plastic Theft Task Force was recognized by the County of Los Angeles Quality and Productivity Commission, the California Attorney General’s Certificate of Citizen Commendation, and the Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles County Excellence in Investigations Award.
http://sheriff.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/lasd/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3hLAwMDd3-nYCN3M19LA0_nEDPvMJMAQ39jA_2CbEdFAFVdgp4!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/lasd+content/lasd+site/home/home+top+stories/lasd+saves+30+million+earns+top+recognition++la+county+quality+and+productivity+commission+awards
Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
4700 Ramona Blvd., Monterey Park CA 91754
Office: 323-267-4800
http://www.lasd.org
SHBNewsroom@lasd.org
www.Nixle.com
http://nixle.com/lasd----hq-newsroom-shb-los-angeles-county-sheriff/
Twitter @LASD_News http://twitter.com/#!/LASD_News
http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment
Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
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