4 Women Suspected Of $50K In Retail Theft At Stores Across SoCal Nabbed In Riverside County

LA QUINTA, CA ? Four women were arrested this week in connection with a series of organized retail thefts at over 28 businesses across Southern California, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. They allegedly stole goods valued at more than $50,000.

Deputies from the La Quinta Business District Team worked collaboratively with loss prevention employees to obtain a vehicle description and identified the four women as suspects connected to the robberies, according to Riverside County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Patrick Mushinskie.

The four women, 23-year-old Jocelyn Robledo of Arizona, 45-year-old Patricia Garcia of Baldwin Park, 27-year-old Raylina Nemeth of Whittier, and 32-year-old Irma Nemeth also from Whittier, were arrested during a traffic stop in Palm Desert, according to Mushinskie.

"Deputies conducted a traffic stop Monday near Cook Street and Country Club Drive in Palm Desert," he said, adding that all four women were subsequently taken into custody with further incident.

"During the stop, deputies located and recovered approximately $12,000 in merchandise,'' Mushinskie said.

All four women were all booked into the John Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of theft, organized retail theft, and petty theft with prior convictions.

Robledo was released on Tuesday from the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on $40,000 bond. She is due in court on Dec. 29 to answer multiple felony charges of conspiracy, burglary in the second degree, grand theft of a dog and petty theft of retail goods.

The investigation into the case remained ongoing on Wednesday. Anyone with information regarding the thefts was urged to call the Thermal Sheriff's Station at 760-863-8990.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 760-341-7867.