Sac teens accused of stealing from Lodi Target, other area stores

Three Sacramento teens were arrested last week on suspicion of organized retail theft after they were found in San Joaquin County with more than $4,000 worth of merchandise stolen from big box stores in Elk Grove, Lodi and Manteca, police said.

Along with the organized retail theft charges, Mia Whitted, 19, Charlene Valdez, 18, and a 17-yearold girl were arrested on suspicion of grand theft and criminal conspiracy, the Manteca Police Department announced Wednesday in a news release. Police did not release the 17-year-old’s name because she is a minor.

A few hours before the suspects were arrested on April 11, staff at a Target store in Manteca received information that the three suspects had stolen more than $1,200 worth of merchandise from a Target store in Lodi, police said.

Target loss prevention staff saw the trio enter the Manteca store and realized they also were responsible for a theft three days before when more than $2,500 worth of baby formula was stolen there, police said. Target staff called police for help.

As a Manteca police detective and officer were headed to the store, Target loss prevention staff spotted the three suspects select large amounts of baby formula, clothing and other merchandise and conceal the items in large tote bags placed in shopping carts, police said.

Loss prevention staff tried to detain the suspects after they failed to pay for the merchandise and left the store, but police said the suspects reportedly refused to comply with Target staff.

Police arrived at the store and detained the suspects without further incident. Police said the suspects were found in possession of more than $2,400 worth of stolen merchandise from the Manteca Target, $1,200 worth of merchandise from the Lodi Target and more than $600 worth of merchandise from an Elk Grove Walmart.

“Suspects who commit these types of crimes in our jurisdiction are commonly wanted by other jurisdictions for the same offenses,” Manteca police said in the news release. “Having an investigator specifically assigned to this type of criminal activity allows us to thoroughly investigate these crimes on a multi-jurisdictional scale and bring these suspects to justice.”