Members of a family group of retail thieves dubbed by police as the “Dodger Crew” were arrested this week on suspicion of stealing and then reselling high-end perfumes at Los Angeles-area stores.
The Los Angeles Police Department's Organized Retail Theft Task Force served a search warrant Thursday morning at the family's home, which KTLA reported was in South Los Angeles.
Police arrested Fermin Mendoza, 50. His son Fermín, 23, his daughter Natalie, 20, and his mother, Gabriella López, 48, were also arrested.
Police are searching for the father's girlfriend, whom they have not named.
The family was named the “Dodger Crew” because some were wearing Los Angeles Dodgers gear during alleged robberies, according to LAPD Lt. Mike McComas. The family has no affiliation with the Major League Baseball team.
Crew members are suspected of stealing high-end perfumes and reselling them.
(KTLA)
“Normally you don't have the parents and the children [committing crimes] together,” McComas said.
The task force had been investigating the family since February, he said. Officers discovered alleged crimes dating back to December.
Officials did not disclose the value of the perfumes the crew allegedly stole over the past seven months. KTLA 5 reported that members robbed major retailers such as Macy's and Nordstrom in Los Angeles, Glendale and Torrance.
The task force is investigating how the stolen merchandise was resold and is looking for “fences,” people who buy stolen goods from thieves, McComas said.
“If anyone is buying these products from the people who are stealing, they should be notified that we will find them and shut them down,” he said.
