Four people arrested for stealing $1.5 million from Southern California jewelry stores

Shop window of a jewelry store. (Getty Images)

Four suspects have been arrested in connection with brutal burglaries of jewelry stores across Southern California.

The suspects were identified as follows:

• Rodney Allen Flynt, Sr., 31
• Michael Anthony Jones, Jr., 32
• Christopher Shawn Pate, 27
• Ryan Keith Pate, 31

According to the California Attorney General’s Office, the group is part of an organized theft ring that stole more than $1.5 million worth of jewelry.

The thefts occurred from April 4, 2023, to May 8, 2024, and targeted high-end jewelry stores in Orange, Riverside, San Diego and Kern counties.

Affected retailers include Kay Jewelers, Zales, Marc Jacobs, Princess Jewelers, Banter By Piercing Pagoda, JCPenney and Karrada Jewelry.

The suspects typically stormed shopping malls and looted jewelry stores in brutal burglaries, authorities said. The thefts took place both during opening hours and sometimes after stores closed.

In total, the quartet fled with jewelry and goods worth around $1,542,706, according to court documents.

The group was charged with thirty crimes, including organized shoplifting, grand theft, conspiracy, second-degree robbery, second-degree commercial burglary and vandalism.

“Organized retail crime has a profound impact on our community and the entire region,” said Carlsbad Police Lt. Shaun Lawton. “These crimes not only affect the financial health of local businesses, but also result in higher prices for consumers and reduced tax revenues that fund public services.”

“Organized retail crime has plagued our state for far too long,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “It harms businesses, retailers and consumers – and puts the public at risk. I thank our local law enforcement partners for their work in apprehending the suspects in this case. The California Department of Justice and its partners will continue to fight to protect our communities, businesses and consumers from shoplifting and other crimes.”

The case was investigated by multiple agencies, including the California Department of Justice Organized Retail Crime Task Force, Bakersfield Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, San Diego Police Department, Carlsbad Police Department, Escondido Police Department, El Cajon Police Department, National City Police Department and Chula Vista Police Department.