Three East Bay sisters landed in jail just before Christmas after police say they stole about $300,000 worth of goods from stores across the Bay Area in a case they dubbed “Pinch a Grinch.”
Most of the grab and runs happened around Christmas at the Southland
Mall. They stole racks and racks of new clothes, warm jackets, sweatshirts,
appliances and even a kitchen air mixer –and they sold them at huge discounts.
“This crime was very bold,” said Claudia Mau from the
Hayward Police Department. “It could be determined items were stolen with price
tags from the stores and sensors.”
Southland Mall asked police for help last summer when grab
and runs involved assaults on employees. Law enforcement throughout the Bay
Area helped with the investigation and police said the case led them to three
sisters: 27-year-old Jessica Rodriguez, 24-year-old Jessenia Rodriguez and
33-year-old Norma Rodriguez.
Police said they operated out of two Oakland homes with
items from 18 stores including Target, Walmart, Victoria Secrets, Home Depot
and Lowe’s.
Surveillance video revealed entire families purchasing the
stolen merchandise, police said, and property was also sold on Facebook
marketplace.
“It’s a lot of stuff,” said shopper Epi Arenal.
Those who saw the video seemed surprised families would buy
the stolen goods.
“Sometimes you buy something not what you thought, if it’s
not legal, you can’t go to cops, that’s the problem,” Arenal said.
Police say the sisters were recruiting groups of thieves and
this is an ongoing case.
Authorities ask anyone with information contact the Hayward
Police Department.
Source: NBC Bay Area
Be First to Comment