For more than a year and a half, Southern California detectives traced a trail of smashed doors, stolen alcohol, and pried-open ATMs, chasing a group of suspects believed responsible for a wave of nighttime commercial burglaries.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau, Metro Detail said the suspects targeted liquor stores, tobacco shops, pharmacies, and other convenience-type stores throughout Los Angeles County, and were later linked to similar burglaries in Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
Authorities said the suspects often masked their identities with hooded sweatshirts and face coverings, used power tools to cut through security doors, and fled in high-performance vehicles, including stolen Chevy Camaros. Several incidents prompted dangerous police pursuits, officials said.
Detectives conducted extensive work to build the case: reviewing surveillance video, analyzing forensic evidence, interviewing witnesses, and coordinating with law enforcement agencies across Southern California. In all, they identified more than 50 victim businesses.
The investigation culminated in the early morning hours of Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, when Metro Detail detectives executed multi-location search warrants at four residences — three in Long Beach and one in Alhambra.
Authorities recovered suspected stolen property, thousands of dollars in cash, evidence linking the suspects to the crimes, two loaded semi-automatic handguns, and an assault pistol equipped with a silencer and an extended high-capacity magazine.
Arrest warrants had been previously obtained from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The following suspects were taken into custody:
- Marco Rivera, 22, of Long Beach, $1,025,000 bail
- Nakoa Taylor, 20, of Long Beach, $1,000,000 bail
- Jaheim Ebry, 21, of Long Beach, $1,000,000 bail
- Francisco Araiza-Lopez, 25, of Alhambra (previously arrested), $1,075,000 bail
In addition, Isaac Araiza-Lopez, 19, of Alhambra, was arrested on charges of possession of narcotics for sale and multiple felony firearm-related offenses.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about these crimes to contact the LASD Major Crimes Bureau, Metro Detail at (562) 946-7893. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com.
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