Teenage Retail Theft Ring Busted By SFPD; 12-Year-Old Faces 32 Charges

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Eight suspects — one as young as 12 years old — who made up an organized retail theft ring were arrested recently in connection to 23 thefts totaling more than $84,000 in merchandise, the San Francisco Police Department said Friday.

The investigation also led to an 18-year-old and 15-year-old to be arrested on carjacking charges, while a 12-year-old and 14-year-old face assault charges in relation to the thefts, police said.

The investigation began following a Sept. 16 theft at a Walgreens on the 1100 block of Potrero Avenue, in which several teens "entered the store, concealed merchandise, and ransacked the store. When an employee asked the suspects to stop, two of the suspects assaulted the employee, resulting in a serious head injury," police said.

Police launched an investigation: Several officers recognized five of the suspects from an investigation into a separate incident that occurred on the same day nearby. The suspects were subsequently taken into custody for the Walgreens incident.

Following an investigation in conjunction with Walgreens asset protection staff, police determined that eight suspects were involved in at least 23 thefts at various Walgreens in San Francisco, in which they made off with over $84,000 in merchandise, police said.

Among the incidents were on July 11, when seven suspects gathered outside Walgreens at 2050 Irving St. Employees recognized them as thieves, so they locked the doors and called police. But the suspects forced the door open and stole over $1,300 in merchandise, police said.

On Aug. 18, seven suspects stole merchandise from the store at 1333 Castro St. by concealing it; one of them jumped over counter and stole money from a cash register, leading to a loss of over $6,500, police said.

On Sept. 9, nine suspects stole over $1,000 in merchandise from the store at 2690 Mission St. While they were leaving, one of the suspects brandished a gun at a security guard, police said.

On Sept. 29, eight suspects stole over $15,000 in merchandise from the store at 1333 Castro St. They came back with five more suspects two hours later and stole another $12,000 in merchandise, police said.

Below are the suspects and the charges they're facing, according to police:

• Brandon McClain, 18, of Hayward — four counts of second-degree burglary, four counts of grand theft, four counts of organized retail theft
• 12-year-old San Francisco boy — assault likely to produce great bodily injury, three counts of second-degree robbery, seven counts of second-degree burglary, seven counts of grand theft, ten counts of organized retail theft and four counts of petty theft
• 15-year-old San Francisco boy — three counts of second-degree robbery, eight counts of second-degree burglary, eight counts of grand theft, eight counts of organized retail theft, and petty theft
• 14-year-old San Francisco boy — assault with a deadly weapon, assault likely to produce great bodily injury, battery causing serious bodily injury, second-degree robbery, second-degree burglary, grand theft, organized retail theft, petty theft, and three counts of great bodily injury in the commission of a felony
• 15-year-old Oakland boy — second-degree robbery, four counts of second-degree burglary, four counts of grand theft, and four counts of organized retail theft
• 15-year-old Oakley boy — five counts of second-degree burglary, five counts of grand theft, and five counts of organized retail theft
• 14-year-old Pittsburg boy — two counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of grand theft, and two counts of organized retail theft
• 14-year-old San Francisco boy — second-degree robbery, second-degree burglary, grand theft, organized retail theft, and petty theft

McClain and the 15-year-old San Francisco boy were also each charged with carjacking in connection to a Nov. 5 incident near Geneva and Cayuga avenues, police said.