Los Angeles County authorities announced the recent bust of a stolen goods ring suspected of operating shops selling stolen merchandise; the loot, valued in the millions of dollars, is believed to have been stolen from trains and shipping containers.
On August 14th and 19th, investigators searched two DJ General Tool and Wire stores located in Montebello and Huntington Park, seizing stolen goods worth $4.5 million, including power tools, household appliances, and electric bicycles. Police mentioned that expensive branded products like Dyson, Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Makita were found on the premises, many of which had already been sold in physical stores and online.
The enforcement operation was a joint effort by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Union Pacific Police Department, and Los Angeles Port Police.
41-year-old Montebello resident Dojoon Park was arrested on August 14th for his involvement in receiving stolen property and was taken to the LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center on felony charges. Under Los Angeles County’s “zero bail” policy, he was released the same day and is scheduled to appear in court on September 8th. Both DJ General Tool and Wire and Park have not responded to media inquiries.
“This operation highlights LAPD’s commitment to dismantling theft crime networks,” stated Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell, emphasizing that organized theft activities impact the local economy, affecting businesses, workers, and households. The LAPD stated that the investigation is ongoing, with more arrests expected.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman’s office is planning to file charges against Park, but there has been no response to requests for information related to the charges. Hochman stressed that theft of goods harms businesses, disrupts supply chains, and raises costs for everyone.
In recent years, the Port of Los Angeles has become a hot spot for container theft. Authorities point out that such incidents have been on the rise, often due to organized crime groups playing a role behind the scenes.
Insurance brokerage firm Burns and Wilcox cited CargoNet data showing that in 2024, there were 3,625 reported incidents of cargo theft in the US and Canada, reaching a historic high and marking a 27% increase from the previous year. In California, cargo theft cases increased by 33% compared to 2023.
In April of this year, LAPD arrested two key members of a South American theft ring. Investigators seized over $1.2 million worth of stolen tequila, sound systems, coffee, clothing, shoes, body wash, and pet food in multiple warehouses in the San Fernando Valley.
Authorities also confiscated a batch of stolen Bitcoin mining computers worth $2.7 million destined for Hong Kong at the Los Angeles International Airport.