16 arrested amid St. Johns County crackdown on retail store thefts

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ST. JOHNS, Fla. – With the extremity of combating retail theft during the vacation season, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office conducted “Operation Bad Santa” successful collaboration with nonaccomplishment prevention unit members astatine country retail stores.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, its cognition resulted successful 16 radical being arrested. Most are facing misdemeanor offenses, but for two, who look felony charges.

Each idiosyncratic faces a complaint of retail theft, but immoderate are facing further charges, including a antheral who had an outstanding warrant.

Another antheral besides faces charges of artillery connected a instrumentality enforcement serviceman aft deputies said helium fled connected ft with a concealed firearm, and fought and resisted deputies who attempted to instrumentality him into custody.

According to respective apprehension reports obtained by News4JAX, the Calvin Klein store astatine the St. Augustine Premium Outlets was targeted by 4 people, who arrived successful 2 abstracted vehicles with duct portion covering the licence plates.

According to authorities, surveillance video recorded them placing merchandise into bags they brought into the store earlier walking retired without paying. They were stopped by authorities aft witnesses reported seeing them stealing $164 worthy of merchandise that was identified by store employees.

Two of the 4 suspects arrested were 19-year aged Janae Tribune and 19-year aged Briennise Farrington. Both were charged with felony expansive theft successful transportation to a theft reported astatine Sunglass Hut. According to deputies, much than $1,000 worthy of merchandise was taken from this store.

The arrests made during “Operation Bad Santa” began backmost successful November and the latest apprehension was past week.