Seven people are accused of stealing thousands of dollars of designer products from Valley merchants.
James Vasquez, 26, Eric Camarena, 23, Carolina Maldonado, 22, Michael Galindo, 26, Alex Galindo, 24, Leonel Duarte, 21, and Rene Camarena, 28 allegedly stole $50,043.87 in high-end handbags, sunglasses and clothing between May and September from various stores in Maricopa County.
According to police, the suspects admitted to stealing from stores in Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale and Avondale and cited drug-use as their motivations.
The suspects either entered a store as a group, or individually, and selected his or her items and then ran out of the store without paying for them.
The group is suspected in 49 reported cases.