MARTINEZ — In the wake of increasing outrage over the recent spree of brazen retail theft across the Bay Area, prosecutors in Contra Costa County have charged three people with serious felonies, including robbery, in connection with the weekend mass burglary in downtown Walnut Creek.
A 30-year-old woman and two men, aged 19 and 32, were charged with conspiracy, robbery, burglary and organized retail theft in the Nov. 20 mass burglary of Nordstrom, which was caught on camera and widely reported. The charging records say that 25 cars — many without license plates — were “strategically placed” in front of the store to provide cover for the burglars, who ran in, grabbed whatever they could, and made their escape.
The charging documents don’t say how the three people were identified as suspects, but they say that the group stole approximately $100,000 in merchandise within one minute and that four employees were pepper-sprayed. One of the three defendants is charged with brandishing a Glock pistol during the burglary.
The charges come after calls for action across California, including from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who at a news conference Monday said city mayors need to “step up” and combat organized retail theft and encouraged authorities to “make an example” of those who are caught.
News of the charges were announced by the office of Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton, who hours earlier also announced she was joining an “alliance” of prosecutors that include San Joaquin, Alameda, San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, and Santa Clara to tackle organized retail theft in Northern California. On Tuesday, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin called a news conference to announce charges in a similar burglary there.
“We are committed to stopping those who participate in organized retail theft, which has adverse and costly impacts on business owners and consumers as well,” Becton said in a written statement in the news release.
On Tuesday, Mary Knox — a prosecutor in Becton’s office who is running against her in next year’s election — released a statement saying the burglary was “entirely predictable” under Becton’s watch and saying Becton had not “publicly condemned the violence or the organized theft.”
Prosecutors estimate that roughly 90 people participated in the Nordstrom’s burglary.
Source: www.mercurynews.com