LOS ANGELES—Authorities sought the public’s help Dec. 18 to identify more than 200 stolen Apple devices and other electronic items recovered by police officers who served a recent search warrant at a storefront in the Westlake area.
The items were discovered Dec. 13 in the 2000 block of West Sixth Street, where officers arrested a woman on suspicion of receiving stolen property “in relation to retail store theft,” according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Her name was not immediately available.
“While recovering volumes of merchandise taken from retail stores, detectives also observed bookcases, storage bins, and bags full of personal electronic devices such as laptop computers, iPads, and iPhones,” police said.
“Detectives believe many, if not all, of the electronics recovered were taken in burglaries of vehicles and homes in the Los Angeles area,” police said.
Detectives identified an Apple MacBook that was taken in a burglary from motor vehicle near Echo Park in November, police said.
“Also taken in that car theft was $45,000 worth of cameras and camera equipment,” police said. “Detectives recovered much of that stolen camera equipment in the store as well. Detectives were able to track down the owner after discovering video in a camera that included an investigative reporter associated with a local news station who was recording an on-scene news report in downtown Los Angeles last month.
“In addition, Rampart detectives have identified eight laptop computers belonging to the Los Angeles Unified School District, one laptop computer belonging to the Los Angeles Public Library, and one laptop computer belonging to the Beverly Hills Unified School District,” police said.
Police circulated photos of some of the recovered items, and sought the public’s help to identify additional owners of the electronics recovered and determine if they were also the victim of a crime.
“Detectives welcome any information about criminal activity related to the theft or sale of these items as well,” police said.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call LAPD Rampart Auto Detective B. Gorby at 213-842-0783, or send an email to [email protected]; or call Burglary Detective M. Pineda at 213-484-3424 or send an email to [email protected]. Tipsters may also call 877-LAPD-247, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
