During the evening hours of Wednesday, 12-16-14, and Thursday, 12-17-14, Property Crimes Investigators of the Redding Police Department conducted surveillance and patrols of shopping center parking lots throughout Redding. The purpose of these patrols was to suppress theft from retail stores and customers, as well as the associated narcotics activity related to the theft offenses.
Theft offenses in retail areas typically increase during the period leading up to the holidays. Merchandise left in vehicles and customers carrying cash attracts drug addicts desperate to finance their habits. Street level heroin and methamphetamine dealers set up in retail parking lots to exchange drugs for stolen property or cash.
The addicts obtain the property mainly by shoplifting and stealing from customer’s vehicles. They obtain cash by panhandling and conducting fraudulent returns. The addicts look in trash cans just outside store exits. When they locate a discarded receipt, they find the merchandise on the shelf inside the store and return it for cash. They also use stolen credit cards to purchase gift cards, which are traded directly for drugs.
Numerous suspicious individuals were contacted in these parking lots. The arrested persons included:
Brandon Maxwell Watson, age 23, from the state of Washington, for possession of heroin.
Joshua Lane Sutherland, age 22, of Redding, for possession of heroin.
Robert Lee Cronin Mills, age 23, of Shingletown, for possession for sales of heroin and possession of methamphetamine.
Stanisha Tenetta Bowers, age 37, of Redding, for possession of methamphetamine and warrants.
Shawn David Galloway, age 39, of Redding, for arrest warrants.
Johnathon Michael Hopkins, age 28, of Redding, for arrest warrants.
Roberto Lopez, age 21, of Anderson, for an outstanding arrest warrant.
Some of these individuals were booked at Shasta County jail, while others were cited and released pursuant to Proposition 47.
The Redding Police Department suggests that customers refrain from discarding receipts in store trash cans. Valuables kept in vehicles should be hidden from view. Report suspicious subjects to the Redding Police Department, and enjoy a safe holiday season.
– Press Release