Seal Beach Police detectives recently arrested three individuals on suspicion of 21 counts of commercial burglary. The arrests came after suspects were observed on surveillance cameras stealing high-end cosmetics from numerous CVS stores throughout Orange County. All are accused of stealing the cosmetics for several years throughout five Southern California counties to include Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura. According to CVS Loss Prevention, the value of the property stolen from June 2013 to the present is more than $58,650.
The Orange County CVS Stores burglarized are as follows:
921 Pacific Coast Highway, Seal Beach, CA
12490 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach, CA
2521 East Bluff Drive, Newport Beach, CA
19121 Beach Blvd. Huntington Beach, CA
2701 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA
Suspects:
Maria Rosa Sarmiento, 36, of Los Angeles:
- Arrested on suspicion of nine counts of 459 P.C. – Burglary
- Arrested on suspicion of one count of 488 P.C. –  Petty Theft
Teresa Hernandez, 29, of Los Angeles:
- Arrested on suspicion of seven counts of 459 P.C. – Burglary
- Arrested on suspicion of one count of 488 P.C. –  Petty Theft
Miguel Angel Contreras, 35, of Los Angeles:
- Arrested on suspicion of three counts of 459 P.C. – Burglary
For video surveillance from a CVS Seal Beach incident, please review the below link on the Seal Beach Police Department’s YouTube Page:
Other counties may ask prosecutors to file their own charges againt the suspects at a later date/time.
Seal Beach detectives believe additional CVS Stores in Orange County may have been affected by these thefts and are asking the public’s assistance for any information related to this case. If you have any information, contact Burglary Detective Mariana Martinez at 562-799-4100 ext. 1110, or by email at mmartinez@sealbeachca.gov.
