This photo provided by the LAPD on July 17 shows an Inglewood store allegedly buying and selling merchandise stolen from other businesses.
Several people have been arrested and a business raided by members of a Los Angeles task force tasked with combating petty theft and other retail crimes in the area.
The previously unnamed business is located in the 2700 block of West Manchester Boulevard in Inglewood and has been on the Los Angeles Organized Retail Crime Task Force’s radar for several months, officials said.
Photos released by police Wednesday identified the business as Tilt., located at 2720 West Manchester Blvd.
In March, another local business reported to the Los Angeles Police Department that it had been the victim of a theft and police were eventually able to identify the Inglewood business as the suspected buyer of the stolen goods.
On Tuesday, ORCTF investigators were notified by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department that a “flash robbery” had just occurred at a store in East L.A.
The sheriff’s department said it had been investigating the suspects for previous crimes and learned they had sold stolen goods to an Inglewood store.
A description of the suspect was given to task force investigators, who staked out the Inglewood store while waiting for a search warrant to be served.
At that point, a black BMW stopped and three men matching the suspects’ description got out carrying boxes of shoes and clothes, then entered the business.
Once the suspect was inside, investigators served a search warrant and began making arrests.
In total, five people were arrested including 42-year-old Aaron Isreal of LA and 36-year-old Trevian Holmes of Inglewood, as well as 24-year-old Brian McKing, 21-year-old Jahiem Gillett, and 24-year-old Devontay Pinson, all of Los Angeles.
Israel faces possible charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm, Holmes faces possible charges for receiving stolen property, and McKing, Gillett, and Pinson face charges for robbery.
During the search, officers found a firearm, an undisclosed amount of cash, and a number of items stolen from local shops. The owners of the stolen items have now been identified and recovered.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about this crime or other retail crimes is urged to call the LAPD tip line at 877-527-3247. Anonymous tips can be provided online or by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Videos or photos that may be useful in an investigation can be sent to the Organized Retail Crime Task Force via email.
