SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY – San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department (SBSD) announced that between the weeks of May 17 and May 30, 2025, law enforcement investigators conducted a retail theft operation throughout San Bernardino County.

During the operation, investigators made 10 felony arrests and 32 misdemeanor arrests, and recovered $8,162 in property. 

Operation Smash & Grab focuses its efforts on the Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Victorville, and Chino Hills shopping districts to disrupt and dismantle retail store theft crews. 

SBSD said investigators utilize conventional and non-conventional investigative methods to accomplish this task and lessen the blight created by these bad actors. 

‘Concerned with rise in thefts’

In November 2023, SBSD said they became concerned with the rise in thefts at retail stores, which often involved organized crews that conspire to commit robberies, burglaries, shelve sweeps, and vandalisms. 

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors authorized funds to assist with county-wide crime suppression. 

Additional funding aims to enhance law enforcement  services addressing quality-of-life issues in county communities.

Prop. 36 applied to five of the arrests

On November 5, 2024, California voters passed Proposition 36, which SBSD says reformed Proposition 47 laws linked to homelessness, drug addiction and theft. Effective December 18, 2024, it introduced new charges with enhanced sentencing and stricter release rules.

Proposition 36 applied to five of the above arrests, according to SBSD.

Investigators were from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department – Gangs/Narcotics Division, Rancho Cucamonga Station, San Bernardino County Probation Department, Homeland Security Investigations, California Highway Patrol, and the San Bernardino Police Department.

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