California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alongside partner law enforcement agencies, has announced arrests and charges against 22 individuals as part of Operation Sticky Fingers, which involved a statewide organized retail crime operation targeting cannabis retail stores. Thus far, the case involves approximately 975 pounds of cannabis products, resulting in total losses of $1 million to date.
“Just to be clear, we are not talking about shoplifting a couple of packs of THC gummies,” Bonta said during a press conference held at the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. “Far from it. We’re talking about coordinated schemes—organized efforts that hurt our businesses and pose a threat to our communities.”
According to Bonta, the thefts began in the summer of 2023 and continued into July of 2024. Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that the suspects were responsible for at least 15 dispensary burglaries across nine counties that included Monterey, Solano, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Merced, Sonoma, and San Diego. The California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Special Operations Unit (SOU) partnered with the Oakland Police Department (OPD) to investigate suspects who were burglarizing the cannabis dispensaries. Later, Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office joined the investigation.
Image courtesy of the California Attorney General’s Office
According to reports, the suspects would meet at predetermined locations, proceed to the targeted dispensaries, and force entry into the dispensaries overnight during non-business hours. Investigators determined that the suspects involved in the crime spree had ties to Oakland street gangs. A series of search and arrest warrants were served that resulted in the seizure of over 50 pounds of cannabis. The suspects were charged with commercial burglary, grand theft, organized retail theft, and conspiracy.
Image courtesy of the California Attorney General’s Office
“The California Department of Justice is committed to rooting out organized retail crime in all its forms,” Bonta said. “This announcement sends a clear message to would-be thieves: Organized retail crime will not be tolerated in California because it costs businesses, retailers, and consumers. I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their work in apprehending these suspects, and for our continued collaborative efforts to end crime in our state. With these charges, we’re moving forward to hold these defendants responsible for their crimes.”