Four people have been arrested in connection to a lengthy investigation into a string of thefts of high-end retails stores throughout Southern California and Arizona and Nevada.
Lorena Ramirez, Zakharias Karasoulas, Dion Karasoulas and Mario Espinoza were arrested Wednesday after investigators served a series of search warrants at homes in the South Bay and the Lake Elsinore area. They seized more than $12,000 in stolen merchandise.
Led by Ramirez and Karasoulas, the suspects are accused of stealing from Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollister, Victoria’s Secret and Gap retail stores, investigators said.
Investigators said the thefts started several years ago and spread across San Diego County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County and Arizona and Nevada. Currently, there are 11 total theft cases, six of which cases are open in San Diego, investigators said.
In total, chief suspects Ramirez and Karasoulas are accused of stealing more than $700,000 in merchandise since 2011.
The suspects have been charged with grand theft, conspiracy to commit grand theft, possession of stolen property and felony warrant charges.
