Texas police arrested nine suspects allegedly involved in four robberies near a suburban mall.
Police inside Austin, Texasnine suspects allegedly involved in four robberies at Target, Kohl’s and Lowe’s this week were arrested in a burglary operation near Lakeline Mall as holiday shopping continued.
In one case, four people allegedly tried to hide unpaid merchandise at Kohl’s in an empty stroller.
The suspects, who met the police in front of the store, left the stroller behind, but were caught immediately. Austin Police Department said in a statement.
Police took approximately $1,100 worth of merchandise from the stroller and $1,200 in stolen property from their vehicle.
In one case, four people allegedly tried to hide merchandise inside an empty stroller at Kohl’s. (Austin Police Department)
Melain Gomez, 20, Alexis Garza, 25, Jesus Jimenez-Gomez, 22, and Jessica Gomez, 23 all loaded with one count of engaging in organized criminal activity, a third-degree felony.
Melain Gomez, 20, Alexis Garza, 25, Jesus Jimenez-Gomez, 22, and Jessica Gomez, 23, were charged with engaging in organized crime, a third-degree felony. (Austin Police Department)
In the second case, a “high-net-worth repeat offender,” identified as Javier Rios, was arrested after allegedly leaving an area Lowe’s store with a flatbed containing a $2,156 air conditioner he hadn’t paid for.
Police also seized a $609 shower kit found inside his car that he allegedly stole from another Lowe’s that day.
Rios was charged with burglary and a state jail felony. He also had two outstanding warrants for theft.
In the second case, a “high-net-worth repeat offender” identified as Javier Rios was allegedly arrested after leaving an area Lowe’s store with a flatbed with an air conditioner worth $2,156 that he hadn’t paid for. (Austin Police Department)
“It definitely happens more than people think,” said Molly McClanahan, assistant manager of Hamline Austin clothing store. Fox 7 shoplifting. “I think it happens more in larger stores where there’s more room to hide or more room to run.”
He said Hemline Austin limits the amount of items customers can try on to prevent theft from its dressing rooms.
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In a third case, police arrested a man and woman in the parking lot of a Target store after a repeat offender identified as 23-year-old Donovan Clausen fled the store with $614 in stolen merchandise after confronting store employees.
He met Christina Schell, 44, in her car, and police said they found $1,050 in stolen jewelry and beauty items, as well as drug paraphernalia, from Target and Kohl’s.
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 latter case, another “high-value repeat offender” was caught allegedly fleeing in his car with a woman.
Martin Morales, 54, left the cart full of unpaid items when he was confronted by Target employees as he left the store and ran to his car.
Martin Morales was booked into the state jail for burglary and 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 for burglary 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.
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