CUPERTINO — At least $10,000 worth of stolen merchandise has been recovered so far through a joint effort by the California Highway Patrol, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and the county District Attorney’s Office, authorities announced Saturday.
While the investigation began after a reported theft at a beauty store, Sheriff’s officials said the case soon grew into a bigger probe.
“What started as a $5,000 Ulta Beauty heist in the City of Cupertino turned into a full-blown organized retail crime investigation led by our retail theft task force,” the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement posted on social media.
Authorities arrested two suspects — a 33-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman, both from Oakland — in connection with the thefts. They were booked on felony charges of organized retail theft, receiving stolen property, and conspiracy.
Investigators said the suspects were connected to thefts from Ulta, Target, CVS, Walgreens, TJ Maxx, and Sally Beauty. A search of a storage unit on San Leandro Street turned up a large haul of stolen merchandise, “worth nearly $10,000 and counting,” authorities said.
Three additional suspects remain unidentified but are believed to be “active boosters” engaging in retail thefts across the Bay Area, the sheriff’s office said.
The investigation is ongoing.