Kent Police arrest 12 in East Hill shoplifting sting

Kent Police conducted a multi-store shoplifting sting last week that led to 12 arrests and the recovery of all stolen merchandise.

The department’s Crime Reduction Unit led the focus at eight East Hill stores, according to a Dec. 3 Kent Police Facebook post.

Multiple officers joined with store security teams for the shoplifting emphasis, according to police.

“We have conducted many of these operations in the past, but this is the first time we’ve run a multi-store sting,” according to police.

Details about several of the arrests:

• As officers were arriving and just setting up for the sting, security at Ross Dress for Less, 26117 104th Ave. SE, reported that a 35-year-old King County woman was allegedly exiting their store with stolen items. Officers arrested her and recovered $147 of product. She was booked for investigation of theft and multiple warrants.

• A 35-year-old Kent man was reportedly seen running out of Ross a short time later with a duffle bag full of product. He was detained and admitted his plans to sell the items he had stolen. He was arrested and booked for investigation of theft and fourth-degree assault for pushing a staff member as he exited the store. The staff member is OK, according to police.

• At Home Depot, 26120 104th Ave. SE, a loss prevention team member watched a 32-year-old Bonney Lake man select items, disappear out of sight, then reemerge with a large bulge in his jacket. He exited the store, tried to run when officers told him to stop, and dropped the merchandise while he ran. He was caught, arrested and booked for investigation of theft, obstructing, resisting arrest, multiple Kent warrants and a Puyallup warrant.

• Harbor Freight, 26015 104th Ave. SE, called in that a 51-year-old Kent man reportedly took off with a $389 generator without paying. Officers found him walking the generator to his nearby apartment. He was arrested and booked for investigation of theft, along with warrants from Kent and Puyallup.

• A 32-year-old Federal Way man was allegedly seen by Target staff concealing items, then leaving the store at 26301 104th Ave. SE. Something spooked him, and he ditched the items before he was contacted. However, he had Kent warrants for obstructing and theft, and a Pierce County warrant for DUI. He was arrested and booked.

• Target observed a 25-year-old Seattle woman reportedly conceal a bottle of Patron in her purse, then leave the store. She also had an extraditable felony warrant in Oregon for theft. She was arrested and booked into jail. She will eventually be transferred to King County jail as a fugitive from justice to await her extradition.

• Ross got hit again with two men ages 23 and 25, one from Indiana and one from Issaquah, who were seen allegedly loading up two large duffle bags with clothing, then exiting the store. After they were arrested, they admitted that their master plan was to sell the stolen items. They were booked for investigation of theft, attempted trafficking of stolen property and misdemeanor warrants. Their haul was over $600.

• A 35-year-old Everett man managed to make it to his car after reportedly stealing several items from Harbor Freight. He didn’t get far and was quickly pulled over. He was driving with a suspended license. He was booked into jail for investigation of theft, and his vehicle was impounded.

Police reported that the people arrested span ages, genders and hometowns and that the majority reportedly intended to sell the stolen items. Many had warrants. All the products were recovered and returned to the stores.

Police plan to continue to do similar stings, according to the post.