Illegal alien shoplifting ring stole $300,000 worth of goods
Ross stores targeted by illegal aliens
On Thursday, five illegal aliens pleaded guilty to conspiracy, grand theft and burglary in a shoplifting scheme that targeted San Diego-area Ross clothing stores.
According to prosecutors, the thieves struck the same stores several times a week for two years, netting them approximately $150,000 a year in stolen goods.
Mexican nationals William Cruz Pena, 26, Maria Delaluz Oros, 45, Benita Rubio, 47, and Heriberto Tolentino, 42, will serve two-year prison terms, while Diana Palazios, 37, will be sentenced to a year in the county jail.
They were arrested on January 5, during a traffic stop in Encinitas. They were caught with $6,000 worth of clothes and accessories they had just stolen. Police Sgt. Tom Poulin said, they could barely sit in the backseat of their cars.
The illegal aliens always worked quickly as they stuffed merchandise into their clothing, filled stolen purses with other stolen goods and cut off anti-theft tags before walking out of the stores.
They stole during the week, and sold the merchandise on the weekends at a swap meet in Oceanside.