CORRECTION 3/7/2023 at 6:10 p.m.- After further review, the sentence "Since the creation of this task force, there have not been any new commercial burglaries related to the series" was deemed to be inaccurate and has been removed from the news release below.
Over the past two months, Burglary detectives have been investigating 23 commercial burglaries, with similar circumstances, that occurred from early January through February.They believe three different groups are responsible for these commercial burglaries and are following all leads to identify and apprehend the suspects.
In response to these crimes, we have increased patrols in the affected areas and furthered our commitment to protecting our community by creating a Burglary Task Force.
While detectives are still looking for the suspects responsible for the original 23 incidents, the task force’s efforts have resulted in many thwarted burglaries and arrests.
Below are a few great arrests from the past few weeks:
On Feb. 7, 2023, at approximately 12:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business located at 71 Aquarium Way regarding a grand theft that had just occurred. Upon arrival, officers contacted the calling party who stated she was working in the business when she saw a group of subjects enter the store and place various merchandise in bags. The subjects walked out of the store with the stolen merchandise, and fled in a sedan, heading towards Shoreline Drive. The loss was approximately $1,000 in retail merchandise. On March 1, 2023, at approximately 8:37 a.m., officers stopped a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle that fled the crime scene. Officers contacted the driver, and determined she was one of the suspects responsible for the burglary. She was arrested and transported to Long Beach City jail for booking. The suspect was identified as RanyKennkaUong, a 40-year-old resident of Long Beach, who was booked on an outstanding warrant. Bail was set at no bail.
On Feb. 26, 2023, at approximately 5:57 a.m., officers were dispatched to a business located at 455 East Ocean Boulevard regarding a burglary report. Upon arrival, officers contacted the calling party, an employee of the business who noticed it had been broken into. The preliminary investigation suggests the suspect used a nearby standing umbrella to forcibly entered through the front gate of the business, and subsequently shattered a window. The loss was cash and a tablet. A short while later, a patrol officer traveling in the area of Zona Court and 4th Street located a male adult subject matching the description of the suspect. The subject was detained and positively identified as the suspect responsible for the burglary. He was then arrested and transported to Long Beach City jail for booking. The suspect has been identified as Corey James Swayney, a 22-year-old resident of Long Beach, who was booked on two counts of second-degree burglary. Bail was set at no bail.
The Long Beach Police Department encourages anyone with information to contact the Burglary Detail at (562)570-7351. Anonymous tips may be submitted through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the "P3 Tips" app to your smartphone (available at the Apple app store or Google Play), or by visiting www.LACrimeStoppers.org.