A 28-year-old convicted felon with a history of violent crimes was arrested Tuesday night alongside two other shoplifters during a retail theft operation at Victoria’s Secret in Seattle’s University Village.
At approximately 7:15 p.m., Seattle Police Department officers arrested two women, aged 28 and 34, for stealing merchandise from the store.
Officers recovered $173 worth of stolen items, along with a fixed-blade knife, lockpick kit, and brass knuckles from one of the suspects.
The women were both identified and released, with officers recommending criminal charges to the city attorney’s office.
Later in the operation, the Victoria’s Secret loss prevention manager spotted two more suspects stealing items from the store.
As officers moved to apprehend the suspects, they ran through the parking lot and discarded the stolen merchandise whilst fleeing.
Officers caught one of the suspects and arrested him. The other successfully escaped.
The 28-year-old male suspect is known to law enforcement as a violent offender with prior felony convictions for assault and robbery.
Officers booked the suspect into King County Jail for organised retail theft and obstructing a public officer.
Ultimately, officers seized $759 in stolen merchandise. One of the suspects remains outstanding, and SPD noted the investigation is active.
Victoria’s Secret trespassed all three suspects from the store.
The pattern of multiple shoplifting incidents at the same store on the same evening suggests either coordinated theft rings targeting the location or opportunistic criminals recognising inadequate security.
The two women arrested first carrying a fixed-blade knife, lockpick kit, and brass knuckles alongside stolen lingerie indicates professional shoplifters equipped with tools for breaking into locked display cases and potential weapons for threatening store employees who intervene.
The lockpick kit particularly suggests sophisticated retail theft operations. Amateur shoplifters grab merchandise and run. Professional thieves carry tools to defeat security measures protecting high-value items.
The decision to release both women after identifying them and recommending charges reflects Seattle’s booking restrictions that limit jail space to violent crimes and serious offences. Retail theft, even with weapons possession, often results in cite-and-release.
The $173 in stolen merchandise from the first incident represents a misdemeanour-level theft in Washington, where the felony threshold is $750. The weapons possession could elevate charges, but prosecutors must decide whether to file those counts.
The loss prevention manager spotting two more suspects later in the evening whilst police were still on scene demonstrates the brazenness of retail thieves who operate even with law enforcement presence visible.
The suspects running through the parking lot and discarding merchandise whilst fleeing shows consciousness of guilt but also suggests they prioritised escape over keeping the stolen goods. Many shoplifters abandon merchandise when capture seems likely.
One suspect escaping despite officers’ pursuit indicates either the suspect was faster, knew the area better, or officers prioritised catching one person over chasing both into potentially dangerous situations.
The 28-year-old male suspect being a known violent offender with assault and robbery convictions explains why he was booked into jail whilst the women were released. His history makes him a public safety concern beyond the retail theft charge.
The organised retail theft charge suggests prosecutors can demonstrate this wasn’t isolated shoplifting but part of a pattern or conspiracy to steal for resale. Organised retail theft carries enhanced penalties compared to simple shoplifting.
Obstructing a public officer stems from his flight from police, adding another charge to the retail theft. Running from police constitutes obstruction under Washington law.
The $759 total in recovered merchandise across both incidents exceeds the $750 felony threshold, supporting the organised retail theft charge that applies when people work together or engage in patterns of theft.
The one suspect remaining outstanding means police are likely reviewing surveillance footage to identify him. University Village has extensive camera coverage that typically produces usable images.
Victoria’s Secret trespassing all three suspects means they’re legally barred from entering the store. Returning would constitute criminal trespass, an additional charge if they’re caught inside again.
