5 Under Investigation In Southern California Apple Store Thefts
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Five people from Fresno, Sacramento and the East Bay city of Antioch are suspected of being an organized retail theft crew after a weekend heist at a Southern California Apple store led to an altercation with mall customers.
Thousand Oaks police say three people wearing hooded sweat shirts entered The Oaks Mall on Sunday, stole about $18,000 worth of iPhones and Apple laptops and ran, knocking down a girl customer.
Other customers tackled and held two suspects while the third fled to a waiting vehicle. A Ventura County sheriff's deputy soon stopped a vehicle carrying three people as it traveled at high speed in Simi Valley.
The department says a search turned up Apple products stolen in Thousand Oaks and from an Apple store in Los Angeles County.
Three Antioch residents, 19-year-old Terry Timothy, 23-year-old Edward Benton and 24-year-old Donte Sims, were arrested in connection with the heists. Authorities also arrested 23-year-old Mona Shakyizia of Sacramento and 26-year-old Tynisha Noel of Fresno.
According to CBS Los Angeles, all five suspects are being held in Ventura County for burglary as well as conspiracy to commit burglary.
© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
