LAPD Seizes $1M in Stolen Shoes, Backpacks from Chatsworth Business
The recovered merchandise included shoes from Brooks, Hoka, New Balance, Adidas, On, and Salomon, as well as JanSport backpacks.
By Elizabeth Chavolla
Published 4 hours ago Updated 4 hours ago
LAPD
A Simi Valley man was arrested after Los Angeles police recovered an estimated $1 million in stolen railroad cargo during a search of a Chatsworth business linked to online sales of stolen merchandise, authorities said.
Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department's Commercial Crimes Division Cargo Theft Task Force served a search warrant October 21 at a business identified as DesignerDeals4Less located near the intersection of Nordoff Street and Independence Avenue following an investigation into stolen shoes from a collaboration between Brooks and Disney being sold on eBay.
During the search, investigators recovered approximately 35 pallets of merchandise stolen from Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railroad trains, with an estimated value of $1 million.
According to police, the owner admitted to purchasing the stolen merchandise from unauthorized distributors of the brands.
The owner, identified as Heros Tasci, 51, of Simi Valley, was arrested and booked at Van Nuys Jail on suspicion of receiving stolen property.
The operation involved several law enforcement agencies, including BNSF Police, Union Pacific Railroad Police, Alameda Belt Line Police, Los Angeles Port Police, Los Angeles World Airports Police, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the LAPD Commercial Crimes Division at [PHONE_REDACTED] between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.