“Operation Smash & Grab” Yields 15 Arrests, Recovers Property in Rancho Cucamonga
RANCHO CUCAMONGA,CA – A collaborative law enforcement effort resulted in multiple arrests and the recovery of property within the Rancho Cucamonga shopping corridor. Between September 27 and October 10, 2025, investigators conducted “Operation Smash & Grab,” a targeted retail theft suppression operation focused on the area of 12505 North Main Street.The operation involved personnel from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Gangs/Narcotics Division and Rancho Cucamonga Station, alongside partners from the San Bernardino County Probation Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the California Highway Patrol, and the San Bernardino Police Department.
The coordinated effort led to a total of 15 arrests, including four felony arrests and 11 misdemeanor arrests.
Authorities reported the recovery of $3,236 in stolen merchandise during the operational period. “Operation Smash & Grab” is an initiative focusing on the shopping districts of Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Victorville, and Chino Hills.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department launched the operation in response to a rise in retail thefts, which the department indicates often involve organized groups. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors has authorized funds to assist the Sheriff’s Department with county-wide crime suppression related to quality-of-life issues. Investigators utilized both conventional and non-conventional investigative methods in the targeted operation. Furthermore, authorities noted that the recently enacted Proposition 36, the “Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act,” was applied to three of the arrests made during the operation.
Proposition 36 took effect on December 18, 2024, and allows for enhanced sentencing and limitations on cite-and-release for certain offenses, aiming to reform laws from Proposition 47.
