An 18-year-old and seven juveniles, one as young as 12, have been arrested in connection with more than 20 shoplifting incidents, San Francisco police announced Thursday.
According to officers, the investigation began after a robbery that occurred on September 16 at the Walgreens on the 1100 block of Potrero Avenue. Police said several juvenile suspects hid merchandise and ransacked the store.
When an employee asked the suspects to stop, the employee was attacked and suffered serious head injuries, police said.
During the investigation, officers from the Mission Station Anti-Vendor Enforcement Unit recognized five of the juvenile suspects while investigating an attack that also occurred on September 16 at 24th and Mission Streets.
Police said the suspects were taken into custody for the incident at Walgreens.
Investigators reviewed other incidents and noted similarities in the description of the suspect, victims and motive. With the help of Walgreens Asset Protection, investigators have identified eight suspects involved in at least 23 shoplifting incidents at the pharmacy chain’s San Francisco locations.
In a statement Thursday, police listed some of the incidents allegedly linked to the suspects, including an incident on Aug. 18 at the store at 1333 Castro Street where one of the suspects jumped over the counter and stole a cash register, and a Sept. 9 incident at the store at 1333 Castro Street, where one of the suspects jumped over the counter and stole a cash register. incident at the store at 2690 Mission Street, where one of the suspects brandished a firearm at a security guard.
The eight suspects are also linked to two robberies on September 29 at the Castro Street location. Police said $15,000 worth of merchandise was stolen during the initial robbery, before the group returned with five additional accomplices and stole another $12,000 worth of merchandise about two hours later.
A total of $84,000 worth of merchandise was stolen, police said.
The only adult in the case, 18-year-old Brandon McClain of Hayward, was arrested on suspicion of four counts of second-degree burglary, four counts of grand larceny and four counts of organized retail theft.
Police say the youngest suspect is a 12-year-old boy from San Francisco. The 12-year-old has been charged with assault likely to cause serious bodily injury, three counts of second-degree larceny, seven counts of second-degree burglary, seven counts of grand larceny, 10 counts of organized retail theft and four counts of larceny. petty theft.
The additional suspects have been identified as a 14-year-old male from Pittsburg, two 14-year-old boys from San Francisco, a 15-year-old male from Oakland, a 15-year-old male from Oakley and a 15-year-old male from Oakley. year old man from San Francisco. All remaining suspects face multiple charges, including second-degree burglary, grand larceny and shoplifting.
One of the 14-year-olds from San Francisco is facing additional charges of assault with a deadly weapon, assault likely to cause serious bodily harm and battery causing serious bodily harm.
McClain has also been charged with carjacking along with the 15-year-old from San Francisco following a Nov. 5 incident near Geneva and Cayuga avenues.
According to jail records, McClain is being held without bail and his next court appearance is scheduled for Friday.
The identities of the minor suspects are being kept secret due to their age.
Anyone with additional information about these cases is asked to call the SFPD tip line at 415-575-4444 or text TIP411, beginning the message with SFPD.
