SAN FRANCISCO – Two children, ages 11 and 13, were taken into custody for being part of a “prolific” organized retail crime ring that stole more than $190,000 worth of merchandise, San Francisco police said.
The boys were among eight to 10 suspects who broke into and looted stores, often breaking glass displays to steal valuable or frequently stolen items, police said in a news release Thursday.
The 11-year-old was involved in four organized shoplifting incidents, while the 13-year-old was charged with seven counts of robbery, five counts of grand theft and five counts of organized shoplifting, police said.
According to police, the other two arrested were juveniles.
Cuauhtemoc Ramirez, 19, of Daly City, was accused along with five others of stealing more than $6,000 worth of merchandise from a retail store in the 3500 block of Geary Boulevard on Feb. 9. He was also charged with two counts of felony at large, 25 counts of burglary, 25 counts of grand theft and 25 counts of organized retail crime.
A 17-year-old male suspect was charged by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office on July 31 with 26 counts of robbery, 23 counts of grand theft and five counts of organized shoplifting, police said.
In addition to theft losses, the group is accused of causing $19,000 in damage, police said.
Although arrests have been made, the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the San Francisco Police Department at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with “SFPD.”
