A shoplifting case from December 2022 has led Tucson Police Department investigators to the discovery of a fencing operation along the N. Oracle Road corridor, landing three people in custody.
Each individual was arrested for Trafficking in Stolen Property and booked into the Pima County Jail.
According to the Tucson Police Department, in December of 2022, it became aware of potential trafficking-in-stolen-property activity that involved employees of a chicken restaurant storefront, located at 4001 N. Oracle Rd. Detectives from Operations Division West/Neighborhood Crimes Unit (ODW/NCS) and the Community Response Team (ODW/CRT) began an investigation. Investigators noted activity consistent with a fencing operation in which staff members of the restaurant were paying known shoplifters for items that were stolen from businesses in the area. Detectives from ODW/NCS and Operations Division South officers continued monitoring the business. Once TPD investigators noted the magnitude and complexity of the investigation, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and investigators from the affected business began working jointly.
Evidence indicates that the restaurant’s employees were reselling the stolen items out of their residence, as well as on an online marketplace. Additionally, investigators identified two addresses where the stolen property was being stored.
On November 29th, TPD personnel, in conjunction with HSI Agents, served simultaneous search warrants at the restaurant and two homes, one located near S. Mission Road and W. Calle Guadalajara, and the other located in the 4500 block of S. 13th Avenue. As a result of the search warrants, police recovered thousands of dollars in stolen property to include tools, clothing, shoes, diapers, and electronics.