Full Notification

Over the course of the last few months, SVPD Detectives received information, from an Investigator at Target, in reference to a Suspect involved in Organized Retail Thefts and Conspiracy.

This tip led to a male suspect, later identified as Peter Nhan (42 YOA), from El Monte. The investigation revealed, Nhan was legally purchasing hard drives from various stores throughout Central and Southern California, to include Ventura County. Nhan would then carefully remove the hard drives and replace them with older less valuable drives. Nhan would then return the hard drives and receive a refund. During some surveillances, Nhan was observed visiting up to 16 different stores in a day.

Furthermore, it was discovered Nhan was using his business, Skynet Computers, in order to sell the stolen hard drives. Detectives received information that Nhan received over $189,000 from selling these drives.

On August 1st, 2019, Detectives from the Simi Valley Police Department with assistance from the Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force, executed a search warrant at Nhan’s residence in El Monte. During this search warrant approximately 200 hard drives were recovered. These hard drives were a mix of stolen drives along with the ones Nhan was switching out. Nhan was arrested for Grand Theft, Organized Retail Theft, Conspiracy, and Money Laundering. Nhan was booked into Ventura County Main Jail.

Sergeant Patrick Zayicek
Public Relations Bureau
(805) 583-6209.
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