Lafayette police say they have located a car used in two downtown “grab and run” theft cases, arrested one of three suspects and are looking for the remaining pair. The trio, so far unidentified, are suspected in two thefts at the same downtown business on Thursday and Friday.
On Thursday, at about 1:09 p.m., a woman entered a business in the 3500 block of Mt. Diablo Blvd., looked around and then allegedly grabbed several pairs of eyeglass frames that were on display. She fled east on Mt. Diablo Blvd. with what the store reported was about $1,200 worth of their product.
The following day, according to Lafayette police, a man entered the same business with an empty paper bag at about 2:44 p.m., approach the counter display and grabbed several eyeglass frames from their racks, placing them inside the paper bag, according to police and store employees.
An employee confronted the man and was pushed backwards into a display case as the suspect fled the store. Another began to run after the thief, who jumped into a waiting car at Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Oak Hill Road. The car drove away north on Oak Hill, police said.
The employee pushed by the suspect was not seriously injured. Investigators determined the man escaped with $2,800 in merchandise.
Police notified surrounding agencies about the vehicle after managing to capture a photo of it cruising near the target business. On Tuesday, the vehicle was located by officers from the Oakland Police Department, and its occupants were detained while an LPD Officer responded to the scene.
One of the individuals in the car at the time was identified as being involved in both of the Lafayette crimes and was arrested, according to police. The car was impounded and the suspect interviewed Lafayette police, who said the suspect admitted to his involvement in both thefts.
Investigators located evidence linking the suspect to both crimes in the car. The suspect, whose name was not given, was transported and booked on robbery, burglary, and conspiracy charges. The suspect was currently on probation for theft, police said. The two remaining suspects have been identified and are being sought.
What kind of crime ring hits the same business twice in two days?
The Gang That Couldn’t See Straight?
Those cameras are kind of creepy but they seem to work.