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Police and security hammer shoplifters in La Jolla, Sports Arena
And Las Americas outlets in San Ysidro
A video from Newsreel Media shows the inside of that U-Haul packed with a shopping cart and goods still tagged with price stickers.
Shoplifters are finally getting caught—a significant shift from the past few years. Just last year in countless cases suspects were let go, calmly escorted out of big-box stores by loss prevention specialists, or simply ignored by employees—often under orders not to intervene due to company liability concerns. In San Diego County, stopping a thief just wasn’t worth the risk.
But now, California’s retail theft crackdown is in full effect—and the impact is undeniable.
In March and April alone, SDPD and security stopped over 80 men and women suspected and caught of shoplifting with a U-Haul truck, some at the trolley stations in La Jolla and dozens at Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Diego.
"We shouted and pointed out his location to officers, who then ran up the stairs and arrested the man just outside of the elevator, on the trolley platform.”
Locals are noticing a shift from the old “catch and release” pattern—often blasted across social media—to something new: “catch and hopefully go to jail.” This change is due primarily to new laws like Assembly Bill 2943, which took effect in January and allows officers to arrest suspects based on probable cause, even if they didn’t witness the theft. Then there’s Proposition 36, passed by voters in November 2024, which increased penalties for repeat offenders. Now, even thefts under $950 can become felonies if the thief has priors.
One recent example played out on April 21 at the Ross store in La Jolla Village Square. Employees called 911 after a man was seen cutting tags, stealing clothes, and shoving both a customer and a staff member. Newsreel Media, who said they were "first on the scene," documented the entire moment. “We went face-to-face with the fleeing suspect, and he walked to the trolley station,” they said in a [YouTube] video. “As we called 911 to report ‘eyes on,’ a patrol unit arrived just as the man stepped into the elevator. We shouted and pointed out his location to officers, who then ran up the stairs and arrested the man just outside of the elevator, on the trolley platform.”
Officers recovered close to 400 stolen items, many high-end sneakers at Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Ysidro.
And it wasn’t a one-off. Just six days earlier, at the same trolley stop, SDPD arrested another man “with bags filled with stolen merchandise” from Marshalls, according to the same outlet.
So why has this trolley station become a favorite escape route?
“I heard about people stealing from La Jolla,” said Rick D., who used to ride the trolley to work in the same area. “It makes total sense why they would do that because they would run into a crowded trolley so that way they can lose the cops, security, or whoever that’s after them—trying to blend in with the crowd. And they must have planned the trolley time right to run to it because you’re not going just to steal anything and just wait around for the trolley to come.”
Others use different tactics. On April 11, outside the Marshalls near the Sports Arena, a group of three suspects used a U-Haul truck to make their escape.
“The Marshalls store security team confronted one male and two female suspected shoplifters in the store parking lot,” Newsreel Media reported. “One of the females immediately fled on foot. The other female jumped into the passenger seat of a U-Haul truck, and the male jumped into the driver's seat. They drove away at high speed, with a security staff member following in a car.”
Police were nearby. “Units pulled behind it to attempt a traffic stop,” the outlet continued. When the suspects didn’t stop, a chase began. The truck sped to Hancock Street behind Kobey’s Swap Meet. “The driver jumped out of the truck, leaving it in gear as it rolled into a parked car. As he ran down the street, nearby locals gave chase as the police helicopter watched from above and directed units to the suspect. After he was taken into custody, police returned to the U-Haul, where the female suspect was yelling from inside the cargo area.”
A video from Newsreel Media shows the inside of that U-Haul packed with a shopping cart and goods still tagged with price stickers. Like the trolley system, these low-cost trucks are now being used by thieves as quick getaway vehicles—allowing them to haul carts of stolen merchandise and even crash for the night if needed.
Then came the March operation at Las Americas Premium Outlets. According to multiple news outlets, the California Highway Patrol launched a large-scale retail theft sweep that reportedly led to 80 arrests, including 13 felony charges. Officers recovered close to 400 stolen items, many high-end sneakers; the total haul was worth more than $36,000.
Back in January, City Heights and North Park neighbors were already sounding the alarm. Felicia Shaw and others neqrby posted online about the steady stream of shoplifting at their local Vons on 30th Street. “There are always police there dealing with brazen shoplifters,” Shaw said. “One day, a guard got in a scuffle with a shoplifter who had stuffed his backpack with big steaks and vodka. They fought in the line where I was waiting to check out. I nearly got socked, and my groceries were squished and eggs broken as they tumbled all over the place.”
Unlike the recent cases, the alleged thief reportedly escaped when the police arrived.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Police and security hammer shoplifters in La Jolla, Sports Arena
And Las Americas outlets in San Ysidro
Police and security hammer shoplifters in La Jolla, Sports Arena
And Las Americas outlets in San Ysidro
A video from Newsreel Media shows the inside of that U-Haul packed with a shopping cart and goods still tagged with price stickers.
Shoplifters are finally getting caught—a significant shift from the past few years. Just last year in countless cases suspects were let go, calmly escorted out of big-box stores by loss prevention specialists, or simply ignored by employees—often under orders not to intervene due to company liability concerns. In San Diego County, stopping a thief just wasn’t worth the risk.
But now, California’s retail theft crackdown is in full effect—and the impact is undeniable.
In March and April alone, SDPD and security stopped over 80 men and women suspected and caught of shoplifting with a U-Haul truck, some at the trolley stations in La Jolla and dozens at Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Diego.
"We shouted and pointed out his location to officers, who then ran up the stairs and arrested the man just outside of the elevator, on the trolley platform.”
Locals are noticing a shift from the old “catch and release” pattern—often blasted across social media—to something new: “catch and hopefully go to jail.” This change is due primarily to new laws like Assembly Bill 2943, which took effect in January and allows officers to arrest suspects based on probable cause, even if they didn’t witness the theft. Then there’s Proposition 36, passed by voters in November 2024, which increased penalties for repeat offenders. Now, even thefts under $950 can become felonies if the thief has priors.
One recent example played out on April 21 at the Ross store in La Jolla Village Square. Employees called 911 after a man was seen cutting tags, stealing clothes, and shoving both a customer and a staff member. Newsreel Media, who said they were "first on the scene," documented the entire moment. “We went face-to-face with the fleeing suspect, and he walked to the trolley station,” they said in a [YouTube] video. “As we called 911 to report ‘eyes on,’ a patrol unit arrived just as the man stepped into the elevator. We shouted and pointed out his location to officers, who then ran up the stairs and arrested the man just outside of the elevator, on the trolley platform.”
Officers recovered close to 400 stolen items, many high-end sneakers at Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Ysidro.
And it wasn’t a one-off. Just six days earlier, at the same trolley stop, SDPD arrested another man “with bags filled with stolen merchandise” from Marshalls, according to the same outlet.
So why has this trolley station become a favorite escape route?
“I heard about people stealing from La Jolla,” said Rick D., who used to ride the trolley to work in the same area. “It makes total sense why they would do that because they would run into a crowded trolley so that way they can lose the cops, security, or whoever that’s after them—trying to blend in with the crowd. And they must have planned the trolley time right to run to it because you’re not going just to steal anything and just wait around for the trolley to come.”
Others use different tactics. On April 11, outside the Marshalls near the Sports Arena, a group of three suspects used a U-Haul truck to make their escape.
“The Marshalls store security team confronted one male and two female suspected shoplifters in the store parking lot,” Newsreel Media reported. “One of the females immediately fled on foot. The other female jumped into the passenger seat of a U-Haul truck, and the male jumped into the driver's seat. They drove away at high speed, with a security staff member following in a car.”
Police were nearby. “Units pulled behind it to attempt a traffic stop,” the outlet continued. When the suspects didn’t stop, a chase began. The truck sped to Hancock Street behind Kobey’s Swap Meet. “The driver jumped out of the truck, leaving it in gear as it rolled into a parked car. As he ran down the street, nearby locals gave chase as the police helicopter watched from above and directed units to the suspect. After he was taken into custody, police returned to the U-Haul, where the female suspect was yelling from inside the cargo area.”
A video from Newsreel Media shows the inside of that U-Haul packed with a shopping cart and goods still tagged with price stickers. Like the trolley system, these low-cost trucks are now being used by thieves as quick getaway vehicles—allowing them to haul carts of stolen merchandise and even crash for the night if needed.
Then came the March operation at Las Americas Premium Outlets. According to multiple news outlets, the California Highway Patrol launched a large-scale retail theft sweep that reportedly led to 80 arrests, including 13 felony charges. Officers recovered close to 400 stolen items, many high-end sneakers; the total haul was worth more than $36,000.
Back in January, City Heights and North Park neighbors were already sounding the alarm. Felicia Shaw and others neqrby posted online about the steady stream of shoplifting at their local Vons on 30th Street. “There are always police there dealing with brazen shoplifters,” Shaw said. “One day, a guard got in a scuffle with a shoplifter who had stuffed his backpack with big steaks and vodka. They fought in the line where I was waiting to check out. I nearly got socked, and my groceries were squished and eggs broken as they tumbled all over the place.”
Unlike the recent cases, the alleged thief reportedly escaped when the police arrived.
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