by Garth Meyer
Two organized retail theft suspects were arrested Dec. 4 by the Redondo Beach Police Department after a robbery at South Bay Galleria – part of the recent increase in orchestrated store heists.
Malik Trevon Oaks, 23, and Khristian Jamol Clayton Phillips, 26, both of Los Angeles, were caught as they left a store inside the mall with $2,400 in stolen merchandise.
“They ran outside and we were waiting for them,” said RBPD Lt. Fabian Saucedo.
Detectives worked from a suspicion that day, along with their increased presence at the mall since Nov. 5, when a group of suspects began to target a specific retailer. To date, the purported theft ring is alleged to have stolen more than $15,000 in goods.
During most of these incidents, the suspects ran out to a waiting car and driver.
On Dec. 4, Oaks and Phillips had only the parked car they arrived in. Wearing regular Covid-19 masks, they carried no weapons.
Through further investigation, RBPD detectives found that the same organized theft crew is also alleged to be responsible for similar robberies in Los Angeles and Orange County.
In these types of crimes, people enter stores and fill bags with merchandise in front of employees and customers before running out.
Oaks and Phillips were both booked for grand theft. They were held initially at the Redondo Beach jail on $250,000 bail.
The case was referred to the Los Angeles District Attorney for filing consideration. ER
