Four arrested for retail theft at Bay Area shopping center face increased penalties under Prop. 36
Vacaville police arrested four people this week on suspicion of a variety of felony charges related to organized retail theft, grand theft and conspiracy – allegations officials say will bring increased penalties thanks to voter approval of Proposition 36.
In a Facebook post, the police department said Sacramento residents Breanna Martin, 31; Laquiesha Ellington, 37; Jasmine Russell, 37; and Oscar Guerra, 30, were caught in part due to an alert community member who spotted and reported suspicious activity and the quick work of responding officers.
According to the police social media post, a citizen spotted a woman Thursday afternoon running out of the Nordstrom Rack store carrying armfuls of clothing. “She hurriedly jumped into a waiting blue SUV that was already rolling towards the exit,” police noted, saying the person immediately called dispatchers.
“Dispatchers collected helpful information, and one of our awesome Community Service Officers immediately began checking cameras in the area, which showed the SUV heading into the east plaza of the outlets,” according to the Facebook post. “Officers headed to the area and found the SUV backed into a parking spot in front of Nike, with nobody inside. So officers waited nearby.”
Moments later, police noted, Martin ran out of the Nike store “with a full bag” while Ellington dropped items she was carrying and “tried to duck back into the store.” Police said both were quickly detained along with Russell and Guerra, who were at a nearby store.
Police said their investigation showed the group had worked together to steal more than $2,200 in merchandise from Nordstrom Rack, and more than $1,600 of merchandise from Nike. They said some of the suspects were wearing newly-stolen items.
Ellington was also found to have five outstanding felony warrants for her arrest due to other organized retail crime cases, police said.
Noting that the voter-approved Proposition 36 took effect Wednesday, police said the new law increases penalties for repeated theft offenses and certain drug crimes. As a result, officers booked Martin and Russell into Solano County Jail on suspicion of violating penal code 666.1 — a new charge that relates to shoplifting with prior theft-related convictions. It is an automatic felony charge and has additional standards that must be met before an arrestee can be released from jail, they noted. All four suspects were booked on suspicion of various felony charges related to organized retail theft, grand theft and conspiracy.
Police praised voters for approving Proposition 36 and Solano County DA Krishna Abrams who they said has been very helpful in working with police to ensure the first arrests with the new penal code sections are correctly processed for review and prosecution.
Abrams issued a press release last week pledging to enforce the provisions of Proposition 36.
“As a result of this public mandate, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office will enforce these provisions for repeat offenders,” she noted in the statement. “Holding repeat offenders accountable and making sure there are proportionate consequences for criminal actions is necessary if we want small businesses to prosper, people to feel safe, and those in need to get the necessary help.”