Founder of Sneaker Retailer Arrested After Police Seize Stolen Nike Goods

Last week, the founder of a popular sneaker and apparel store was taken into custody in Southern California amid a raid revealing thousands of stolen Nike items.

Authorities conducted a search at the company’s warehouse in Santa Monica, uncovering over 2,100 Nike shoes and 150 boxes of Nike apparel, with an estimated value of around $500,000.

Adeel Shams, 34, who established CoolKicks, was detained at the scene and later released from custody. He was booked on suspicion of receiving stolen property.

CoolKicks issued a statement expressing shock over the discovery of the stolen merchandise, emphasizing that the company purchased the items in good faith and verifying that the products were not counterfeit.

The raid took place while CoolKicks was live-streaming an auction on the WhatNot platform. Shams appeared surprised during the police action, questioning whether it was a swatting incident.

Investigators also recovered dozens of Nike sneakers, including a display of Jordan shoes, stacked among confiscated boxes outside the warehouse.

A man wearing a blue tracksuit with “Property of Allah” and sneakers standing in a shoe store.

Adeel Shams, the founder of CoolKicks, was apprehended during the raid. champagnepaki/Instagram

Office of law enforcement executing search warrant.

Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the CoolKicks warehouse with assistance from multiple agencies. LAPD

Red Nike shoe boxes and black sneakers stacked inside the warehouse.

Authorities retrieved a significant quantity of Nike sneakers and apparel, with numerous boxes pictured inside the warehouse. LAPD

Confiscated boxes of Jordans and Nike sneakers outside the warehouse.

Some of the stolen sneakers, including Jordans, were displayed on confiscated boxes. LAPD

Shams, who was recorded during the incident, appeared visibly startled and initially questioned whether he was targeted in a swatting attempt. He is scheduled to appear in court later this month, and the investigation is ongoing.