Police in Austin, Texasarrested nine suspects allegedly involved in four theft cases at Target, Kohl's and Lowe's this week as part of a shoplifting sting near Lakeline Mall as holiday shopping got under way.
In one case, four people were allegedly trying to hide merchandise that had not been paid for at Kohl's inside an empty stroller.
The suspects left the stroller behind when they were confronted by police outside the store but were quickly arrested Austin Police Department He said in a statement.
Police recovered approximately $1,100 in merchandise from the stroller and confiscated another $1,200 in stolen merchandise found in their vehicle.
In one case, four people were allegedly trying to hide Kohl's merchandise inside an empty baby stroller. (Austin Police Department)
They were Mylene Gomez (20 years old), Alexis Garza (25 years old), Jesus Jimenez Gomez (22 years old), and Jessica Gomez (23 years old). All charged with one count of engaging in organized criminal activity, a third-degree felony.
Mylene Gomez, 20, Alexis Garza, 25, Jesus Jimenez Gomez, 22, and Jessica Gomez, 23, are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, a third-degree felony. (Austin Police Department)
In the second case, a “high-value repeat offender” identified as Javier Rios was arrested after he allegedly walked out of a Lowe's store in the area with a flat bed containing an air conditioning unit valued at $2,156 that he allegedly did not pay for.
Police also seized a $609 bath kit that was found inside his car and that he allegedly stole from another Lowe's store that same day.
Rios was charged with robbery and a state prison felony. He also had two outstanding warrants for theft.
In the second case, a “high-value repeat offender” identified as Javier Rios was arrested after he allegedly walked out of a Lowe's store in the area with a flat bed containing an air conditioning unit valued at $2,156 that he had not paid for. (Austin Police Department)
“It definitely happens a lot more than people think,” said Molly McClanahan, assistant manager of clothing store Hemline Austin. Fox 7 From shoplifting. “I think this happens a lot in larger stores where there's more room to hide or more room to run.”
Hemline Austin limits the amount of items customers may try on in an effort to prevent theft from locker rooms, she said.
In the third case, police arrested a man and a woman in the parking lot of a Target store after the man, a repeat offender named Donovan Clausen, 23, fled the store with $614 worth of stolen merchandise after being confronted by store employees.
He met a woman, Christina Shell, 44, in his car, and police say they found $1,050 worth of jewelry and cosmetics stolen from Target and Kohl's, as well as drugs.
Clausen was charged with one count of theft and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Shell was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Christina Shell was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and Donovan Clausen was charged with one count of theft and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. (Austin Police Department)
In the latest case, another “high value repeat offender” was arrested after fleeing in his car with a woman.
The man, Martin Morales, 54, allegedly left a cart full of unpaid items when he was confronted by Target employees as he left the store and fled to his car.
Martin Morales was arrested on robbery and state jail felony charges after being stopped by police. Crystal Overby, who was allegedly driving the vehicle, had an active warrant for her arrest. (Austin Police Department)
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Morales was arrested on robbery charges and a state jail felony after being stopped by police. Crystal Overby, who was allegedly driving the vehicle, had an active warrant for her arrest.
