The use of traffic cameras and modern technology helped the Folsom Police Department bring a series of retail thefts to a halt with the arrest two woman Thursday afternoon.
Late Thursday afternoon, the Folsom Police Department received a call from a local retailer to report a theft was occurring at the location where two women were stashing various clothing items in a stroller and had just exited the store. By the time the responding officers responded to the store, the suspects had fled the area by vehicle.
With the use of a good vehicle description, Folsom Police moved to check area cameras and traffic cameras in the area equipped with license plate readers to identify the vehicle. Officers were confident the suspects were associated with an earlier theft at another location the same day.
Officers were able to locate the vehicle parked at another location. Officers waited and detained the women when they returned to the car with the same stroller that was filled with merchandise again. The suspects attempted to run from the scene but were quickly apprehended by officers on foot.
After their arrest, officers determined they had stolen merchandise from several Folsom stores including The Gap, Nike and Dick’s Sporting Goods. They also located a strong magnet that the suspects used to attempt to defeat store security sensors.
The total amount of the stolen merchandise was approximately $3,000. Officers arrested Lazhane Thomas, 25 of San Leandro and Antaeyzhia Johnson, 28 of Modesto. The duo was booked into the Sacramento County jail for Grand Theft, possession of burglary tools, conspiracy to commit a crime and resisting police. Sacramento County Jail records indicate the suspects are no longer in custody.
