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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Fourteen suspects were taken into custody during two separate retail theft blitz operations in downtown Los Angeles, police said Monday.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, retail thefts in downtown Los Angeles have become problematic, resulting in thousands of dollars in daily losses.
"Blitz operations are conducted to address this issue by collaborating with impacted retailers to strategically saturate the problem areas with personnel and resources," the police department said in a statement.
The first blitz operation occurred Thursday in the 600 block of South Broadway, where four suspects were arrested.
The four suspects involved in the first operation were 38-year-old Mario Moreno, 19-year-old Kristyanna Banuelos, 35-year-old Vaneza Quioro, and 23-year-old Amalya Sutton.
A second blitz operation happened Friday at the FiGat7th Plaza near 7th and Figueroa streets, where 10 suspects were arrested.
Detectives identified seven suspects as 25-year-old Valeria Vazquez- Zuniga, 54-year-old Augustus Evans, 53-year-old Quincy Davis, 48-year-old Leila Vavalette, 53-year-old Edna Ordonez-Escobar, 32-year-old Alondra Leon and 38- year-old Darion Moore. The other three suspects were juveniles.
"Under the Los Angeles County felony/misdemeanor bail schedule, several of the suspects were eligible for cite and release, and others had pending warrants," police said.
Anyone with information regarding retail thefts or similar crimes was urged to contact the LAPD Central Burglary Theft Detectives at 213-833-3750. Calls during non-business hours and weekends should be directed to 877-527- 3247. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800- 222-8477.