Detectives Following Up on Retail Theft Mission Recover More Than $29,000 in Stolen Merchandise

Date

7/6/2023

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Detectives from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office have recovered more than $29,000 worth of stolen merchandise following a retail crime mission on June 22, 2023. The original mission resulted in 22 arrests and included deputies and investigators from the Sheriff’s Office and the Milwaukie Police Department. The mission focused on the area of SE 82nd Ave and SE Johnson Creek Blvd, including the Fred Meyer and Walgreens. During the mission, thefts reported at nearby retailers Home Depot and Burlington were also investigated.

In one of those incidents at Burlington, deputies located four individuals believed to be involved in large-scale retail crime. Three of those individuals were contacted and identified. A fourth individual fled the scene and wasn’t able to be contacted or identified. The three individuals contacted by CCSO were identified as Elias Aguilera-Salgado, Rosa Valencia-Torres and Jesus Sanchez-Torres. Aguilera-Salgado and Valencia-Torres were taken into custody and later lodged at the Clackamas County Jail. Sanchez-Torres was released at the scene pending additional investigation. During the investigation, deputies located a vehicle associated with the group and investigators from the CCSO Property Crimes Unit applied for a search warrant to seize that vehicle and search it for evidence.

During a later search, investigators located several large garbage bags filled with what appeared to be large amounts of merchandise believed to have been stolen from retailers throughout the Portland/Vancouver metro area. Most of the merchandise appeared to be designer clothing, purses and fragrances from the following brands: Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, and Dolce & Gabbana, among others.

Working together with loss prevention and store management from Burlington, investigators identified what they believed to be several thousand dollars-worth of stolen merchandise that were returned to the retailer. The overall amount of stolen merchandise recovered during the execution of the search warrant was more than $29,000. Additional items believed to be used to defeat and remove retailer security measures were located as well.

The amount of stolen merchandise recovered from just one vehicle illustrates the impact organized retail theft can have on area merchants. Investigators believe these individuals targeted businesses throughout the Portland/Vancouver area and the investigation is continuing.

ADDITIONAL VICTIMS, INFORMATION WANTED: If you are a retailer that believes your business was impacted by this large-scale theft on, or before, June 22nd, 2023, please contact the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line -- by phone at 503-723-4949 or by using the online email form at: www.clackamas.us/sheriff/tip

We are releasing Elias Aguilera-Salgado and Rosa Valencia-Torres’ booking photo from this incident. The release of the booking photo is for law enforcement purposes and is in accordance with Oregon House Bill 3273 for the identification of additional criminal activity.

Please reference case #23-013104

[END]

Brian McCall, Public Information Officer
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office
Communications Unit