Two men who presented false warehouse documents at the Port of Los Angeles made off with a pair of cargo containers filled with more than $1 million in Nike brand clothing, sportswear and shoes, authorities said Friday.
Police are asking for the public’s help to find the two Latino men in their mid-20s who arrived March 21 at a logistics company in the San Pedro area and presented what turned out to be counterfeit documents and false identification to pick up the imported shipping containers filled with merchandise.
“The suspects provided false information with false drivers’ licenses and stolen license plates,” said Detective Marc Zavala, who works in the Los Angeles Police Department’s Commercial Crimes Division, Cargo-Hijack Unit.
The containers were approved for release and loaded onto the suspects’ two trucks.
“On Saturday, when the real truckers came to get the merchandise, they discovered what had happened,” Zavala said.
The same men returned Sunday attempting to make a second fictitious pickup but fled when the company’s security guard started to question them.
“When he called for backup, they drove off,” Zavala said.
The empty shipping containers were recovered on the same day they were stolen, dumped along the side of the street in South Gate and Vernon. Detectives contend the merchandise, which Zavala said was worth “easily over” $1 million, was offloaded somewhere in that same vicinity.
Investigators are interviewing people in the supply chain. So far, the merchandise has not turned up, Zavala said.
“We’re seeing more and more of this type” of crime, he said. “We’re hoping someone’s going to say something and come forward.”
Anyone with information about the crime can call detectives at 818-832-7510 or 818-832-7508.
During nonbusiness hours or on weekends, calls can be made to 877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).
Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) using a cellphone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”
Tipsters can also go to LAPDOnline.org and click on Anonymous Web Tips.