An East Bay arrest nearly six months ago leads to recovery of more than $325,000 in stolen retail products

SAN RAMON — An arrest by officers nearly six months ago has led to the recovery of more than $325,000 in stolen retail products, police said.

Officers from the San Ramon Police Department and California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force, along with San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office deputies, recovered the products Wednesday while serving search warrants at three undisclosed locations.

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A statement from San Ramon police said they also arrested one person on suspicion of grand theft, possession of stolen property, organized retail theft, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

The recovered stolen products were worth $326,693 and came from Walgreens, CVS, Kohls, TJ Maxx, Safeway, RiteAid and Sunglass Hut.

Police said investigators also seized about $12,200 in proceeds from the criminal operation.

The bust came as the result of an investigation that began after the arrest of two people in November. Police said they stole about $13,000 in cosmetic products from a store at the City Center in Bishop Ranch.

That investigation led an organized retail theft team from San Ramon police to identify an illegal fencing operation in Oakland, police said. Such operations happen when items have been stolen from stores and then are knowingly sold to consumers.