Police: Man arrested for organized retail crimes in LA, Riverside Counties
A man was in custody today for allegedly committing organized retail crimes in Los Angeles and Riverside counties that netted more than $100,000 in stolen merchandise, authorities said.
Investigators served a warrant Sunday at a residence in Los Angeles and arrested Nickolas Mallory, 25, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Mallory was booked on suspicion of robbery, and bail was set at $1.3 million, police said.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office subsequently filed felony charges against Mallory, including robbery, burglary, organized retail crime, possession of a firearm by a felon, and unlawful possession of an assault weapon, police said.
"The suspect ...was involved in multiple robberies/felony thefts from Nordstrom stores in Los Angeles, and numerous thefts from the 73500 block of El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert,'' according to an LAPD statement. "Mallory was also responsible for multiple felony crimes in the Los Angeles area and (in) Riverside County resulting in a loss in excess of $100,000 in merchandise."
The investigation included personnel from the LAPD Organized Retail Crime Task Force and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
"Detectives recovered stolen property taken during the robberies,'' the LAPD said.
According to police, seized items linking Mallory to crimes in both counties included: two firearms, a modified fully automatic machine gun pistol, two high-capacity ammunition magazines, various types of ammunition, and more than $2,000 in U.S. currency.
Anyone with information about the case was urged to email task force investigators at ORC@lapd.online. Tipsters may also call 877-LAPD-247 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS; or use the website www.lacrimestoppers.org.
