Police in California arrested a suspect who they say stole $35,000 worth of product from Nike during 32 separate thefts.
Redlands Police Department arrested Crusheon Lee Bernstein, 35, of Moreno Valley, Calif. as the primary suspect in 32 felony thefts of merchandise from the athletic apparel giant’s Redlands, Calif. store on San Bernardino Ave., according to the police department’s Facebook page.
Bernstein’s Oct. 26 arrest comes after what police say has been an ongoing issue since August. As of Oct. 31, police had Bernstein, who police say was unhoused, in custody at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
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Police have another suspect in custody at West Valley Detention Center, who they believe is connected to four of the 32 theft incidents Bernstein allegedly committed. That suspect’s charges are not currently related to the Nike thefts, according to police.
The Redlands Police Department did not return Sourcing Journal’s request for further details about Bernstein’s arrest and the second subject.
Nike has been the subject of thefts at stores nationwide, the most recent being $200,000 of stolen merchandise in North Carolina. But it also saw serious loss-related issues in Los Angeles, Carlsbad, Calif., Delaware, Illinois and other areas of the U.S..
The world’s most valuable brand also been the target of cargo theft in several incidents, including one earlier this year.
Recent National Retail Federation (NRF) data shows that teens consumers’ favorite brand does not stand alone in facing theft issues.
According to the NRF data, in 2022, shrink accounted for $112.1 billion in losses for retailers, up from $93.9 billion in 2021. Twenty-eight percent of retailers reported being forced to close specific store locations due to theft, while 45 percent of retailers reduced their operating hours due to theft. Thirty percent of retailers said they altered their product selection in stores due to retail crime.
Retailers including Ross, Lululemon, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Victoria’s Secret, Nordstrom and TJ Maxx have also faced retail crime incidents this year.
Nike did not return Sourcing Journal’s request for comment.
