San Francisco Camera Shop Revealed As Front For Retail Theft Ring

After a 2 and a half year investigation, investigators have discovered a local camera store was actually a front for a retail theft ring, reports NBC Bay Area.

Operation Focus Lens investigated a series of thefts at the Macy's department store in Union Square in 2019.

One of the suspects, Rodolfo Castillo, is accused of stealing more than a total of $7,500 worth of merchandise on three separate occasions.

When officers arrested Castillo, he admitted to reselling the stolen items to a company called Camera Heaven.

That's when investigators began monitoring David Tran and Yanxia Xie, the owners of Camera Haven.

They believe the pair was reselling the stolen merchandise at their former storefront at 764 Larkin St. and in flea markets.

The same investigation also led them to a separate organized retail theft operation happening at the store Fashion Exchange at 1446 Polk St.

"My office is committed to combatting organized retail theft by targeting the source: the fencers who are profiting from the reselling of stolen goods," said San Francisco Attorney Chesa Boudin in a statement. "I am also thankful to the many law enforcement agencies who partnered with us and helped us successfully recover stolen goods and identify individuals responsible for driving organized retail thefts in San Francisco."