San Francisco police said Thursday that they had detained an 18-year-old and seven children, including one as young as 12 years old, in relation to over 20 store thefts.
Officers said the investigation started after a robbery at the Walgreens on the 1100 block of Potrero Avenue on September 16. According to the police, a number of young suspects raided the store and concealed goods.
According to police, one employee was beaten and seriously injured after requesting that the perpetrators cease.
While investigating an attack that also occurred on September 16 at 24th and Mission streets, officers from the Mission Station Anti-Vendor Enforcement Unit identified five of the juvenile suspects.
According to police, the suspects in the Walgreens incident have been placed under arrest.
Examining previous cases, investigators found parallels in the motive, victims, and suspect descriptions. Investigators were able to identify eight suspects in at least 23 retail thefts at Walgreens pharmacies in San Francisco with the assistance of Walgreens Asset Protection.
Among the incidents allegedly connected to the suspects were those that occurred on August 18 at the store on 1333 Castro Street, where one of the suspects jumped over the front counter and stole a cash register, and on September 9 at the store on 2690 Mission Street, where one of the suspects brandished a firearm at a security guard, according to a statement released by police on Thursday.
Two robberies at the Castro Street site on September 29 are also connected to the eight suspects. According to police, the first heist resulted in the theft of $15,000 worth of stuff. Two hours later, the trio returned with five more accomplices and took an additional $12,000 worth of goods.
According to the authorities, $84,000 worth of items was taken.
An arrest was made on suspicion of four counts of second-degree burglary, four counts of grand theft, and four counts of organized retail theft against Hayward resident Brandon McClain, the lone adult involved in the case.
According to the police, a 12-year-old San Francisco boy is the youngest suspect. The 12-year-old is accused of three counts of second-degree robbery, seven counts of second-degree burglary, seven counts of grand theft, ten counts of organized retail theft, four counts of petty theft, and assault likely to cause grave bodily harm.
A 14-year-old boy from Pittsburg, two 14-year-old boys from San Francisco, a 15-year-old boy from Oakland, a 15-year-old boy from Oakley, and a 15-year-old boy from San Francisco have been identified as the other suspects. Grand theft, retail theft, and second-degree burglary are among the several allegations against the remaining individuals.
Additional charges against one of the 14-year-olds from San Francisco include battery causing serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, and assault likely to cause grievous bodily injury.
Following an incident on Geneva and Cayuga avenues on Nov. 5, McClain and the 15-year-old San Francisco resident have both been charged with carjacking.
McClain is being held without bail, and his next court appearance is set for Friday, according to jail records.
Because of their ages, the minor suspects’ identities are being kept secret.
Call the SFPD tip line at 415-575-4444 or text TIP411, starting the message with SFPD, if you have more information on these cases.
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