'Shoplifting blitz' near Lakeline Mall; 9 arrested
CEDAR PARK, Texas - Several people were arrested and $7,500 worth of merchandise was recovered after a "shoplifting blitz" operation near the Lakeline Mall.
"It definitely happens a lot more than people think. I think it happens a lot more at bigger stores where there is more space to kind of hide or more space to run," says Hemline Austin Assistant Manager Molly McClanahan.
Austin police said they responded to four active shoplifting cases that included a call regarding four people working together, and three frequent offenders.
A total of nine people were arrested for offenses including: Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Theft, Possession of a Controlled Substance (POCS), and Request to Apprehend.
Case No. 1
On Dec. 5, investigators said the arrests included a group of four who were working together, and another three people who frequently hit stores in the area.
Police said the group of four used a baby stroller to hide items at a Kohl's, at 11111 Lakeline Blvd. Officers got to the store right as the suspects were walking out.
APD said the group left the stroller and tried to run, but were caught by officers.
About $1,100 in merchandise was recovered, and an additional $1,200 in stolen merchandise was found from two other stores in their vehicle.
Melain Gomez, 20, Alexis Garcia, 25, Jesus Jimenez-Gomez, 22, and Jessica Gomez, 23, were all arrested and charged with one count of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity.
They were all taken to the Williamson County Jail.
Case No. 2
On Dec. 5, officers said a known high-value repeat offender, 41-year-old Javier Rios, was inside Lowe's at 13201 N FM 620.
When officers arrived, they saw Rios walking out of the store with a flatbed cart carrying an unpaid AC Unit valued at $2,156.
Rios was arrested for theft, as well as two outstanding arrest warrants charging him with larceny.
Officers also found a stolen shower kit, valued at $609, that was taken from another Lowe's location.
Case No. 3
On Dec. 5, officers responded to a report of a known theft suspect who was taking an anti-theft device from an electronic item from inside a Target, at 10900 Lakeline Mall Drive.
The suspect, 23-year-old Donovan Clausen, left Target with a lot of stolen merchandise. Employees tried to stop him and recover the property.
Clausen then took off on foot, but was later found with a female he met up with.
Police said they found $613.70 worth of stolen merchandise. Officers also found stolen merchandise and narcotics from Target and Kohl's inside the vehicle. The items found were worth about $1,050.
Clausen was charged with one count of theft and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
The female he met up with, 44-year-old Christina Shell, was arrested and charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Case No. 4
On Dec. 5, employees reported a known high-value repeat offender, 54-year-old Martin Morales, was loading up a shopping cart with merchandise inside Target, at 10900 Lakeline Mall Drive.
Morales pushed the cart outside the store and was confronted by an employee. He then left the cart and left.
Officers later found the vehicle he left in.
Morales was arrested for theft. The driver of the vehicle, 44-year-old Crystal Overby, had an active warrant for her arrest.
Employees at Hemline Austin say they have a system in place to lower the risk of thefts at their store in downtown Austin.
"We limit the number of items in the fitting room. So, we have a five-item limit so that way we can know exactly what they're bringing in there, and if they have more items, we can switch them out, and then we also have a door chime. So, if it's super busy, we keep the door closed so that when it opens it chimes so we can see who's coming in and who's going out," says McClanahan.
The Source: Information from the Austin Police Department