Police Sting Targets Buyers of Stolen Liquor

Los Angeles police officers are trying to cap what they say could become a growing problem in the San Fernando Valley: liquor store clerks buying scotch, vodka and tequila stolen from supermarkets.

West Valley vice officers arrested two liquor store employees in Reseda on Wednesday after they allegedly bought premium booze for $5 a bottle from undercover officers posing as drug addicts.

One of the employees even gave the officer orders for particular kinds of liquor, said Sgt. Stephen Merrin, who oversees the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Valley vice officers.

The police investigation, which is ongoing, began after supermarkets reported that shoplifters were stealing dozens of bottles of booze every week. At a Vons market in Reseda, Merrin said, the manager reported losing more than 60 bottles of bourbon and tequila in less than a month.

“The supermarkets are getting killed,” Merrin said.

Mousa Hanno, the manager of J & J Liquor in Tarzana where an employee was arrested Wednesday, said the police officers tricked the clerk.

“It was a big game they played on us,” Hanno said. “They’re forcing the stores to buy it.”

Hanno said the undercover officer, who claimed she needed the cash for drugs, persuaded Antoun Adwani to buy the alcohol after the clerk at first declined.

“He bought it for himself to help out the lady,” Hanno said.

Adwani, 28, posted $10,000 bail and was released Wednesday.

Police also arrested Haitham Mubarkh, a 26-year-old employee of Rocket Liquor in Canoga Park, for allegedly buying several bottles from the undercover agent Wednesday. He also posted bail and was released.

Police said they will ask prosecutors to file felony charges against the men for receiving stolen property.

Steve Hager, manager of the Vons in Reseda, praised the police effort, saying that the shoplifting problem is costly to the chain as well as to other markets.

“We all have security systems but it’s really hard to combat this,” Hager said. “It’s a problem that hits a lot of the markets all over the Valley.”