Rare Disney shoes lead to $1M theft bust

Detectives in Chatsworth recovered one million dollars in stolen athletic gear from a warehouse on the 21000 block of Nordhoff Street. Los Angeles Police Department cargo theft units found the inventory inside a business named DesignerDeals4Less. The haul consisted of 35 pallets of running shoes and related items. Brands included Brooks, Hoka, New Balance, Adidas, and On.

The investigation began when investigators noticed rare Brooks-Disney running shoes listed for sale on eBay. Those specific models are typically sold only at events run by Disney. Detectives made a controlled purchase of the collaborative shoes to trace the origin. That transaction led officers to the warehouse on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Police Capt. Mike Bland stated that the items were stolen from trains throughout California. Police confronted the business owner with the evidence. Investigators reported that he admitted to purchasing the stolen train property from illegitimate distributors. Heros Tasci, 51, of Simi Valley, was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property. He has since posted bail.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office is currently working with investigators on the case. The LAPD task force sought to crack down on thefts from trains and trucks distributing goods from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Multiple agencies assisted in this specific investigation, including BNSF Police and Homeland Security Investigations.

This recovery follows a similar bust last year in which police found 4.5 million dollars in stolen goods at two storefronts. Chief Jim McDonnell identified a sophisticated cargo theft ring operating out of locations in Montebello and Huntington Park. Those stores contained power tools, e-bikes, and appliances from brands like Dyson and Milwaukee.

Cargo theft remains a persistent issue in Southern California due to the region’s status as a global logistics hub. Supply-chain congestion sometimes leaves freight trains idle in urban rail yards, making them vulnerable to thieves. In 2022, images of trains being plundered in Lincoln Heights drew public attention to the problem.

Industry estimates compiled by the Association of American Railroads report more than 75,000 cargo theft incidents in 2025. The trade group attributes the increase to organized criminal networks. These groups often use transnational members to steal high-value merchandise from slow-moving trains.