The discovery of a warehouse in Hawthorne filled with stolen Nike merchandise worth $5 million has recently shocked authorities. The LAPD arrested Roy Lee Harvey Jr., who was seen delivering the stolen goods. He is now facing charges of receiving stolen property and is believed to be responsible for redistributing and reselling the stolen items.
The LAPD collaborated with their Commercial Crimes Division, Cargo Theft, and Organized Retail Crimes Task Force to execute the search warrant and recover the stolen merchandise. Nike also played a vital role in the investigation, as their global security director helped locate the stolen goods.
This incident is not surprising, as brazen retail theft and smash-and-grab incidents have risen over the past year. In 2022, research showed that theft contributed to a staggering $112 billion in losses for businesses nationwide.
California Governor Gavin Newsom invested $267 million to combat this issue in cities throughout the state. This funding was allocated to police and sheriff's departments and district attorneys. The LAPD and the sheriff's department received funds to tackle retail theft.
Source: Youtube
