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Eleven members of an Antioch-Pittsburg street gang have been charged in the organized theft of millions of dollars in goods from Sunglass Hut and other merchants, prosecutors said Friday.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed 33 felony counts Thursday against the gang members including conspiracy, grand theft of personal property and robbery. The combined bail for the eight suspects is slightly less than $22 million, prosecutors said.
Between September and April, the gang worked together to steal merchandise from Sunglass Hut locations in Concord, Walnut Creek, San Ramon and Brentwood, prosecutor said.
Gang members also stole tobacco products from delivery trucks in Pleasant Hill, Bay Point, and Pittsburg, as well as various items from Chanel, Nordstrom, and Alo Yoga in Walnut Creek, prosecutors said.
Stolen vehicles were used to lead police on frequent dangerous pursuits through the Bay Area, prosecutors said.
On March 27, Robert Crawford and three companions allegedly stole crates of tobacco products from a 7-Eleven in Pleasant Hill, prosecutors said.
Fleeing the scene in a vehicle, Crawford evaded police, ultimately losing control and crashing through a fence at Fremont Elementary School in Antioch, prosecutors said.
The felony charges come with enhancements of street terrorism, taking property in concert, and taking property with a value greater than $50,000, according to the district attorney’s office.
