A 24-year-old Los Angeles man was arrested on Saturday, Aug. 29, after trying to steal a belt from Banana Republic on Third Street Promenade.
At 3:25 pm officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were called out to the clothing store in order to investigate a report of theft. Upon arrival the officers spoke with a loss prevention agent who told them that the suspect had entered the store and had immediately been identified as an individual who had committed numerous previous thefts from the store.
The agent told the officers that he had observed the suspect walk to the men’s clothing area and select an attractive leather belt. The agent added that this suspect had then walked suspiciously to a corner of the store whereupon he had removed the belt that he was wearing and had replaced it with the one that he had taken from the display.
The agent said that he had followed the suspect out of the store and had asked the suspect to return the belt. The suspect had then obliged but after returning the belt had run away in a southbound direction. The officers went in search of this suspect and located him a few blocks away where they detained him.
After being positively identified by the loss prevention agent this L.A. man was arrested and charged with theft and violation of probation that he was previously placed on for similar offenses. Bail was set at $10,000.
