SIMI VALLEY : 4 Suspected in Theft From Store Arrested
Police arrested four men for allegedly stealing $3,000 worth of merchandise concealed in empty light-fixture boxes from Mervyn’s store in Simi Valley.
Booked on suspicion of burglary were Begnino Gonzales, 37, of Los Angeles; Juan Zavala, 24, Covina; Rafael Perez, 33, of Los Angeles, and Alfonso Garcia, 30, of El Monte.
The arrests Thursday morning came after the Cochran Road store received an anonymous tip the day before that maintenance workers replacing light fixtures at night were stealing merchandise, police said.
Store security observed the workers via video monitors and confronted them as they left the store with the alleged loot the next morning, officials said.
Raids on two locations in the Los Angeles area later resulted in the recovery of suspected stolen clothing, towels and wallets, police said.
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