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Store security agents nab wanted burglar www.privateofficer.com
Charles Balangue, 25, of San Francisco, was held after attempting to leave the store without paying for some articles of clothing, police said. Investigators declined to identify the store.
A records check turned up the warrant for burglary out of Alameda County, police said. Balangue was booked and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. His case will be forwarded to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office for review.
Violent Nordstrom shoplifter’s fight with security leads to robbery charge www.privateofficer.com
Palo Alto CA Feb 13 2012 A suspected shoplifter tried to wrestle and bite her way to freedom after being stopped by Nordstrom loss prevention officers at Stanford Shopping Center on Wednesday, a police lieutenant said.
Jennifer O. Pederson, 49, of San Francisco walked out of the high-end retailer at about 7 p.m. with a pair of handbags and a leather jacket worth $1,000, said Lt. Zach Perron of the Palo Alto Police Department. She allegedly fought back when two loss prevention officers went to place her under a citizen’s arrest.
“It was essentially a violent wrestling match,” said Perron, adding that Pederson tried to bite one of the loss prevention officers.
The officers managed to subdue Pederson before police arrived, Perron said. One of the officers suffered scrapes, but the other officer and the woman were not injured.
Police arrested Pederson on suspicion of felony robbery, said Perron, explaining that the shoplifting attempt escalated to robbery when she tussled with the two officers.
“Once loss prevention tries to stop you and you start using force to get away, you’re trying to take the property by force,” he said.
Pederson was also arrested in connection with a separate shoplifting episode that took place at the department store about an hour and a half earlier. One of the loss prevention officers had spotted her leaving with two handbags worth $300, Perron said, but she got into a waiting truck before he could stop her.
The officer alerted his colleague when he saw the truck return later that evening, Perron said.
In addition to robbery, Pederson was arrested on suspicion of burglary, possessing stolen property, possessing burglary tools, conspiracy and possessing marijuana. The handbags stolen earlier that day and a small amount of marijuana, were found in the truck, Perron said.
Police also detained a man who was with Pederson when she returned to the department store, Perron said. Donald M. Hall, 26, of Daly City was arrested on suspicion of possessing forged checks, possessing methamphetamines, possessing narcotics paraphernalia, being under the influence of a controlled substance and for two warrants totaling $160,000.
Hall was wanted for a $100,000 warrant out of Tehama County for evading Red Bluff police and for a $60,000 warrant out of San Francisco for indecent exposure, according to Perron.
Both Pederson and Hall were booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail.
