Between April 19 and May 5, 2025, a targeted crime suppression operation named “Operation Smash & Grab” was conducted in San Bernardino County. The initiative involved multiple law enforcement agencies including the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department – Gangs/Narcotics Division, Rancho Cucamonga Station, San Bernardino County Probation Department, Homeland Security Investigations, California Highway Patrol, and the San Bernardino Police Department.
The operation resulted in nine felony arrests and 11 misdemeanor arrests. Authorities recovered $4,372 worth of property during this period. This effort is part of a broader response to rising thefts at retail stores that began concerning the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in November 2023. These thefts often involve organized crews engaging in robberies, burglaries, shelf sweeps, and vandalism.
The focus of Operation Smash & Grab was on shopping districts in Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Victorville, and Chino Hills. The aim was to disrupt these criminal activities using both conventional and non-conventional investigative methods.
Funding for this operation was authorized by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to enhance county-wide crime suppression efforts. The goal is to improve law enforcement services related to quality-of-life issues affecting local communities.
In addition to these efforts, Proposition 36 titled “The Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act” was passed by California voters on November 5, 2024. Effective from December 18 that year, it reforms laws from Proposition 47 which were linked to increasing homelessness and thefts. Proposition 36 introduces new Penal and Health and Safety Codes allowing deputies to apply enhanced sentencing during arrests when applicable. Two arrests made during Operation Smash & Grab were subject to these new regulations.
For further information or inquiries regarding this operation or specific cases referenced by numbers such as Case No. 112504299 or others listed above can be directed to the Public Affairs Division at (909) 387-3700.
Sheriff-Coroner Shannon D. Dicus leads the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department overseeing these operations.
