Police in Simi Valley arrested three teenagers in a stolen vehicle after an officer witnessed one of them taking clothes from a Kohl’s without paying.
The Simi Valley Police Department stated that their license plate reader technology picked up a hit on a stolen vehicle late Saturday afternoon. The exact time was not released.
Authorities tracked the car down to the parking lot of the Kohl’s, located at 2930 Tapo Canyon Road, and as officers attempted to contact the two occupants, a third subject exited the Kohl’s carrying “an armful of clothing” and got into the car.
“The vehicle proceeded to exit the parking lot onto Tapo Canyon Road and a pursuit was initiated,” SVPD said in a release.
The vehicle drove north on Tapo Canyon and continued 12 miles into an unincorporated part of Ventura County before being stopped near the Santa Clara Valley Gas Plant, located in the foothills between Simi Valley and Piru.
All three occupants – ages 18, 16 and 15 – were taken into custody without further incident, law enforcement officials said. The 18-year-old was identified as Christopher Medina of Panorama City; the identities of the other two teens, both of Los Angeles, were withheld due to their ages.
“Several items of clothing were found in the vehicle,” police said. “The vehicle was confirmed to be stolen out of Cerritos.”
The teens were found to have stolen $734 worth of merchandise.
Medina was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility for possession of a stolen vehicle, organized retail theft, conspiracy, evading police and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Inmate records show he is being held on $20,000 bail, with his first court date scheduled for Tuesday.
Both juveniles were cited for organized retail theft and conspiracy before being released to family members.