Bossip
Video
Nike
Source:
NurPhoto
/
Getty
A
major
bust
turned
up
over
$5M
in
stolen
Nike
products
inside
a
California
warehouse
but
social
media
claims
that
it’s
not
what
it
seems.
Over
the
past
few
years,
Nike
has
been
fighting
back
against
the
tomfoolery
that
comes
with
the
rising
popularity
of
sneakers.
The
brand
has
sued
a
handful
of
sneaker
customizers
making
carbon
copies
of
their
existing
product
and
now
is
going
after
stolen
goods,
at
one
point
even
making
headlines
for
a
viral
cargo
theft
in
Memphis.
Customers
are
even
alleging
that
delivery
drivers
are
stealing
products
and
delivering
empty
boxes.
According
to
KTLA,
Nike’s
Global
Security
Director,
supply
chain
investigators,
and
California
authorities
recently
made
a
$5M
bust.
After
raiding
two
warehouses
in
the
Los
Angeles
area,
LAPD
and
Nike
allege
they
found
thousands
of
stolen
sneakers,
clothing,
and
unique
products
like
samples.
Social
Media
Provides
Context
To
Nike’s
Alleged
$5M
Bust
LAPD
arrested
Roy
lee
Harvey
Jr.
after
executing
a
search
warrant
on
a
Hawthorne
warehouse.
Harvey
is
accused
of
organized
retail
theft
including
receiving
stolen
goods
and
redistributing
the
items.
Images
shared
by
the
LAPD
appear
to
show
products
recovered
at
the
warehouse
of
sneaker
shop
Project
Blitz
but
that
detail
has
not
been
confirmed.
There
have
yet
to
be
any
formal
charges
against
the
resale
outfit.
Social
media
believes
his
warehouse
was
unfairly
raided
and
offered
more
context
to
the
situation.
ProjectBlitz
is
one
of
the
most
famous
sneaker
shops
in
Los
Angeles.
We
know
all
these
shops
buy,
trade,
and
sell
sneakers
24/7
and
365
days
a
year.
Alleging
they
have
stolen
merchandise
isn’t
far-fetched
but
every
consignment
shop
in
America
could
have
the
same.
Shops
like
this
are
known
for
collecting
the
rarest
of
sneakers
and
buying
samples
to
display
for
clout
and
status.
The
problem
is
samples
and
prototypes
aren’t
supposed
to
be
in
the
wild,
and
technically
would
be
considered
“stolen
goods”
and
could
be
considered
“receiving
stolen
merchandise.”
It’s
all
about
perspective,
wordplay,
and
public
relations
which
Nike
knows
a
thing
or
two
about.
It
sounds
terrible
being
involved
in
a
$5M
bust.
However
it
seems
a
legit
sneaker
store
may
have
been
raided
over
items
they
paid
for.
We’ll
just
have
to
wait
and
see
how
all
of
this
plays
out.
