Police Find $1 Million In Stolen Beauty Products Tied To Theft Ring: CHP

LOS ANGELES — A woman faces multiple charges in connection with an organized theft ring after authorities found around $1 million in stolen products from popular retailers including Sephora and Victoria’s Secret at a store and warehouse in Los Angeles County, according to police.

Brenda Yanez, 48, of Los Angeles, was arrested and charged with organized retail theft, grand theft and possession of stolen property, police said.

On Dec. 19, the California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force served a search warrant at a warehouse in Paramount and at The Makeup Store on Whittier Boulevard in Los Angeles, according to the state agency. During the searches, they found stolen cosmetics and related items as well as tools used to remove anti-theft devices, police said.

The theft ring targeted retailers including CVS, Walgreens, Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Victoria’s Secret, Rite Aid, Kroger, Nordstrom and 99 Cents Only Stores, according to police. Loss prevention investigators from retailers were on-scene during the search to help identify stolen merchandise, police said, adding early estimates put the value of the recovered stolen goods at over $1 million.