Ring leader in string of South Bay retail thefts sentenced to 6 years in prison

The Las Americas Premium Outlets home to one of the stores targeted by the theft ring File photo courtesy of Simon Property Group A -year-old man has been sentenced to six years in state prison on three felony counts of organized retail theft and robbery after a South County crime spree Edgar Figueroa pleaded guilty on March to two charges of organized retail theft and one of robbery for his role in stealing in shoes and other merchandise from the Nike store at the Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Ysidro and Dick s Sporting Goods and Burlington in Chula Vista Figueroa also pleaded guilty to one count of organized retail theft according to a news release from the San Diego County District Attorney s Office for his role in stealing an additional worth of merchandise from the Nike store in Carlsbad in January An employee called Chula Vista police on March after recognizing the suspect while he was stuffing merchandise in a duffel bag at Dick s Sporting Goods Officers responded and detained Figueroa also demanded in a robbery at Burlington on Feb when he worked with three other individuals to steal worth of merchandise He pointed a firearm at an employee who inquired about the theft while an accomplice also threatened the person with a Taser Figueroa was a leader in a crew of at least six defendants who helped commit each of the thefts On several occasions the thieves attempted to change their appearance when returning to stores they had previously targeted The remaining individuals have been identified and are being prosecuted for their roles in the theft ring