SFPD Organized Retail Crime Task Force Arrests Suspects in Multiple Theft Series #26-024

 

The San Francisco Police Department Organized Retail Crime Task Force recently arrested multiple prolific retail theft suspects responsible for stealing over $30,000 in merchandise, Chief Derrick Lew announced Tuesday.

 

The SFPD Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Task Force remains committed to building and maintaining partnerships with San Francisco retailers. Through proactive outreach and strategic collaboration, investigators are working directly with city retailers to identify and apprehend theft suspects.

 

The SFPD also partners with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), SF District Attorney’s Office, and SF Sheriff’s Department on the Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF), which works with retailers to identify perpetrators and hold them accountable.

 

Additionally, newer California statutes are providing investigators and prosecutors with stronger tools to address chronic retail theft. Effective Dec. 18, 2024, Penal Code 666.1 allows for felony charges and jail booking for suspects with two or more prior theft related convictions. As of Jan. 1, 2025, Penal Code 487(e) enables investigators and prosecutors to aggregate multiple 'petty' thefts into a single felony charge once the total value exceeds $950.

 

Below are summaries of the recent organized retail theft investigations:

In December, a Sonoma County District Attorney Investigator reached out to the SFPD ORC Task Force regarding known habitual theft suspect Anthony Drayton, 37, of San Francisco, who was targeting Whole Food Markets along the California coast. 

 

ORC Task Investigators worked with Whole Food Asset Protection investigators and determined that Drayton was responsible for five thefts from San Francisco Whole Food Markets between December and February with a loss totaling almost $21,000.

 

On Feb. 25, ORC Task Force Investigators arrested Drayton on the 800 block of Bryant Street for five San Francisco cases on five charges each of Grand Theft (487(a) PC/felony) and Commercial Burglary (459 PC 2nd degree/felony).  Drayton was also booked for outstanding theft related warrants from Petaluma Police Department, Marin County Sheriff's Office, Los Angeles Police Department, Palo Alto Police Department, and Berkely Police Department.

 

 

 

A Safeway Asset Protection investigator reported a theft incident at a Safeway Store in San Francisco, involving three suspects.  Two of the suspects were known to Safeway employees due to prior theft incidents. 

 

ORC Task Force investigators worked with Safeway to determine that the suspects were involved in eight additional theft incidents at San Francisco Safeway stores between August and December with a total loss of nearly $2,000.  The SFPD was also able to identify the third unknown suspect.

 

On Jan. 20, officers arrested 36-year-old San Francisco resident Sire Cooper related to seven incidents. He was charged with grand theft (487(a) PC/felony) and seven counts of shoplifting (459.5(a) PC/misdemeanor).

 

On Jan. 31, officers arrested 35-year-old San Francisco resident Earlando Jordan related to five incidents. He was charged with Grand Theft (487(a) PC/felony) and five counts of shoplifting (459.5(a) PC/misdemeanor).

 

On Feb. 4, officers arrested 35-year-old Elgin Rose related to three incidents. Rose was charged with criminal threats (422(a) PC/felony), two counts of petty theft with priors (666.1(a)(1) PC/felony) and attempted petty theft with priors (664/666.1(a)(1) PC/felony.)

 

 

 

In February, a Walgreens Asset Protection investigator reached out to ORC Task Force investigators regarding a habitual theft suspect who had stolen over $4,200 in merchandise from San Francisco Walgreens stores in three incidents between August and January.  SFPD identified the suspect as 30-year-old San Francisco resident Akira Stephens. 

 

On Feb. 12, officers arrested Stephens and charged him with two counts of grand theft (487(a) PC/felony), two counts of commercial burglary (459 PC (2nd degree)/felony), petty theft with priors (666.1(a)(1) PC/ felony), and probation violation (1203.2(a) PC).

 

 

 

In September, ORC Task Force investigators began investigating several retail theft incidents that occurred between August and September.  The incidents occurred on the 2200 block of Chestnut Street, the 2400 block of Fillmore Street, the 600 block of Stockton Street, and the 200 block of Stockton Street.  The total losses were over $3,600.

 

Investigators determined the suspect was 32-year-old Karanbir Singh Deol.  Officers obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect and on Dec. 2, he was arrested by the Alameda Couty Sheriff's Office.  The charges for the San Francisco cases include two counts of grand theft  (487(a) PC/felony), two counts of commercial burglary (459 PC (2nd degree)/felony), and two counts of petty theft with priors (666.1(a)(1) PC/ felony).

 

Although arrests have been made, these investigations remain open and active. Anyone with information should contact the SFPD at 1-415-575-4444 or Text-A-Tip to TIP411, beginning your message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.