Glendora police arrest Mentone man in alleged retail theft scheme

Edwin Fauria, 40, of Mentone

Glendora police arrested a man Wednesday on suspicion of running an elaborate retail theft scheme and seized more than $16,000 worth of allegedly stolen merchandise
from his Mentone home, authorities said.
Edwin Virgil Fauria, 40, was booked on suspicion of commercial burglary, grand theft and conspiracy after detectives arrived at his home in the 500 block of Reservoir Road Wednesday morning, according to Glendora police officials and Los Angeles County booking records.
The massive collection of goods recovered from his garage included electronics, toys, tools and other miscellaneous items.
“Detectives allege that Fauria has been orchestrating an elaborate retail theft scheme that primarily targeted Kohl’s, Home Depot and Target department stores in Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire,” Glendora police officials said in a written statement.
ITEMS1With help from accomplices, Fauria is accused of manipulating the stores’ return policies to buy items, then obtain store credit for them without returning the items, or returning them only in part, Glendora police Lt. Brian Summers said.
The lieutenant declined to go into further detail about how the complicated scheme was allegedly carried out.
Glendora police became involved in the investigation because a Khol’s store in their city was a victim of the alleged scheme.
With help from the stores’ security departments, as well as eBay — where Fauria is accused of selling the stolen goods — detectives identified Fauria as a suspect in ITEMS2the series of crimes, police said. At the time of his arrest Wednesday, police found more than $16,000 worth of items believed to have been stolen from the stores inside Fauria’s garage.
The investigation was ongoing, Summers added.
Fauria was released from custody on his own recognizance pending his initial court appearance.

PHOTOS of Edwin Fauria and seized items courtesy of the Glendora Police Department.

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