During the busy post-Christmas shopping season, a suspect attempted to defraud a local retail store by committing return fraud, according to the Huntington Beach Police Department.
What the male suspect didn’t count on was HBPD’s strong partnership with local businesses.
Thanks to that teamwork, police officers were alerted and they responded quickly.
After completing the fraudulent transaction and attempting to leave the store, the suspect was contacted by police officers and was taken into custody.
It didn’t stop there. Officers also discovered the suspect had an outstanding felony robbery warrant.
Return fraud is a form of retail theft where individuals intentionally exploit a merchant’s return policy for financial gain or to obtain merchandise for free. In 2026, this crime remains a critical challenge for retailers, with 2024 data showing that approximately 15% of all returns—totaling over $100 billion in the U.S. alone—were fraudulent.
Penalties faced by the suspect
In the incident involving the Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) during the December 2025 shopping season, the suspect faces legal penalties for both the immediate return fraud and the pre-existing felony robbery warrant.
1. Penalties for Return Fraud
In California, return fraud is prosecuted as a form of theft under Penal Code 484(a). The specific penalties depend on the total value of the fraudulent transaction:
- Misdemeanor (Value ≤ $950): If the value is $950 or less, the suspect faces up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
- Felony (Value > $950): If the value exceeds $950, it may be charged as grand theft (a “wobbler”), punishable by 16 months to three years in state prison and fines of up to $10,000.
- Enhanced Penalties: Under California’s Proposition 36 (reinstated in 2024/2025), repeat theft offenders with prior convictions can face enhanced felony charges even for amounts under $950.
2. Penalties for the Felony Robbery Warrant
The outstanding felony warrant significantly increases the suspect’s legal jeopardy:
- Immediate Custody: The suspect was immediately taken into custody without the possibility of a “cite and release” due to the nature of the warrant.
- Robbery Conviction: Robbery is a “violent felony” in California. If convicted, penalties typically range from two to nine years in state prison, depending on whether it is first or second-degree robbery.
- Sentencing Enhancements: Because the suspect committed a new crime (return fraud) while having an active felony warrant, a judge may impose consecutive sentences or use the prior warrant as an aggravating factor to increase the duration of imprisonment.
3. Additional Consequences
- Bail Ineligibility: Due to the felony robbery warrant, the suspect may be held without bail or with a significantly higher bail amount.
- Restitution: The court will likely order the suspect to pay full restitution to the retail store for any losses incurred during the fraudulent transaction.
- Store Ban: The suspect will typically be permanently barred from the retail location and potentially all other branches of that business.
What Store did this happen in??