Three more thieves have admitted their involvement in a sophisticated marijuana theft operation in California. They pleaded guilty to charges on Thursday.
What state authorities have deemed “Operation Sticky Fingers” consisted of 15 burglaries, in nine counties, over a nine-month period beginning last fall. Twenty-two men were arrested this July in connection with the operation. Fourteen have pleaded not guilty.
Golden State police say they collectively stole over 1,000 pounds of cannabis products, valued at well over US$1 million. They made off with the goods in the middle of the night.
But the harm they caused is much worse than just that. According to a report from the local media outlet KSBW Action News 8, a police officer was killed during a related shootout in Santa Cruz.
“Unfortunately, we had an officer that was killed Dec. 29 of last year as a part of one of these dispensary burglaries,” Oakland police officer Frederick Shavies told the TV station.
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Six out of 15 break-ins occurred in Santa Cruz County
Other counties impacted by the reckless actions of the pot thieves included Solano, Sonoma, Monterey, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Merced and San Diego.
It was determined that the burglars were involved with a group of street gangs in the city of Oakland.
A total of 32 felony charges have been filed against the perpetrators.
“Just to be clear, we are not talking about shoplifting a couple of packs of THC gummies,” State Attorney General, Rob Bonta, told attendees of a press conference at the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office in August. “We’re talking about coordinated schemes, organized efforts that hurt our businesses and pose a threat to our communities.”
Those involved have been ordered to pay restitution sums to the impacted businesses based on their level of involvement. They range between US$142,000 and US$1.2 million.
rowan@mugglehead.com
