East SBV Times

On September 20, 2024, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department initiated an investigation into a series of organized retail thefts at Stater Bros. Markets in Chino and Ontario. Two suspects were involved in these incidents, with one entering the markets to gather products and another waiting outside with a vehicle to flee once the goods were stolen.

The suspects, identified as Amber Buasen and Andrew Nunez, both residents of Corona, were apprehended on September 27, 2024. Investigators executed a search warrant in Corona and arrested them without incident. Several hundred dollars' worth of stolen items were recovered during the search and returned to Stater Bros. Both individuals face charges of commercial burglary and organized retail theft, with bail set at $30,000 each.

This operation is part of a broader initiative by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department called Operation Smash & Grab. The operation aims to combat the rise in organized retail crime affecting shopping districts such as Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Victorville, and Chino Hills. The department employs various investigative methods to address these crimes that create unsafe environments for shoppers.

"The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors authorized funds to assist with county-wide crime suppression," supporting increased law enforcement efforts related to community quality-of-life issues.

For more information on this case or Operation Smash & Grab efforts, contact the Public Affairs Division at (909) 387-3700.