Seal Beach Police Chief Joe Stilinovich on Wednesday afternoon, April 16, announced the arrest of 10 members of the Insane Crip Gang for 100 restaurant and grocery store burglaries across five Southern California Counties. “Although the investigattion started with property crimes, many of these suspects have substantial and violent criminal histories,” Stilinovich said.
The arrests were made by six SWAT units from a variety of law enforcement agencies. Ten suspects have been arrested and two more suspects remain at large.
According to Stilinovich, the suspects would enter grocery stores, fill shopping carts with high end alcohol and electroic goods, then take the goods out through an emergency exit to a waiting getaway vehicle.
“The Seal Beach Police Department began the investigation when the first alcohol push-out burglary happened in Seal Beach on November 14, 2013,” Stilinovich said. “The loss from this single incident was over $5,000 in high end alcohol and electronics. The suspects spent less than eight minutes in the store.”
The suspects are also accused of breaking into the safes of restaurants. The safe burglaries are still under investigation.
Authorities believe the suspects have been involved in more than the 50 restaurant burglaries and 50 grocery store burglaries that were investigated during the several months of “Operation Crossover.”
“With all the suspects in custody, we are hping the victims and witnesses will be willing to come forward and provide further evidence and invormation that will be needed to charge them with additional crimes,” Stilinovich said.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will prosecute the cases against the suspects.
Stilinovich asked anyone with information about the case to call SBPED Burglary Dtective Mary Martinez at 562-799-4100, ext. 1110.
