Polish 'gypsy' family 'swiped $3 million in electronics from Apple and Best Buy stores in nationwide shoplifting ring'
Four people who described themselves as a Polish 'gypsy family' have been arrested for allegedly orchestrating a nationwide shoplifting ring that netted $3 million in stolen electronics.
The suspects include two women, Ausra Bauzinskaite, 34, and Adeliya Nassybullina, 30, and two men, Lukasz Karasinski, 37, and Przemyslaw Skiba, 31.
They are accused of organizing more than 17 thefts from stores including Apple, Microsoft, Best Buy, Costco, PetSmart, Sams Club, Sports Authority and Walmart, the Orange County Register reports.
Suspects: Ausra Bauzinskaite, 34, (left) and Adeliya Nassybullina, 30, (right) have been arrested for allegedly orchestrating a nationwide shoplifting ring that netted $3 million in stolen electronics
Arrested: The suspects also include two men, Lukasz Karasinski, 37, (left), and Przemyslaw Skiba, 31, (right)
Most of the thefts took place in Southern California as well as in Colorado, Florida and Washington, police said.
The 'family,' from Chicago, reportedly told police that they stole the items to pay off a $2 million debt racked up by their relatives.
'They've been across the country in several states, and I'm sure the total amount stolen is even higher [than $3 million]. This is just what we know of,' Torrance Police Sgt. Robert Watt told ABC News. 'More than 17 commercial burglaries in L.A. and Orange County alone. That's a lot.'
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They were arrested on March 7 after a four-month surveillance operation caught them targeting Apple stores in Southern California.
More than $20,000 in electronics were seized during the arrest.
Motive: The 'family,' from Chicago, reportedly told police that they stole the items to pay off a $2 million debt
'During interview, the suspects described themselves as gypsies from Poland. They were trying to pay off a $2 million debt,' Watt said.
The four suspects face multiple counts of conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and grand theft. All four pleaded not guilty at their arraignment last week.
'Their main item of choice was hard drives, some of them ranging from $500 to $900,' Watt said.
'They were in and out of stores within three to four minutes,' he added. 'Once they left with the stolen items, the group would mail the items back to Chicago to be fenced for cash.'
Charges: The four suspects face multiple counts of conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and grand theft
The thefts, which appear to have been carried out almost daily since 2009, typically involved several of the suspects creating a wall around a single person, who would would then slip the electronics under an over-sized jacket or dress.
The suspects are currently being held at the Los Angeles County Jail without bail under a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold.
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