Los Altos police returned stolen goods to the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop March 3 after the owner of a neighboring store saw the crime and reported it to police.
A call was made to Los Altos Police Department by the owner of Cook’s Junction at approximately 12:40 p.m. March 3, according to Los Altos Police Sgt. Liz Checke. The reporting party saw the crime and recognized the woman as she had allegedly stolen from Cook’s Junction in the past.
Nearby officers stopped the suspect’s vehicle – which they identified based on the reporting party’s description – at approximately 12:45 p.m. Upon the detention, Checke said there were articles of clothing visible from outside the vehicle.
“We had to then go back and contact the business owner, see what they saw stolen, verify that those items were in fact stolen, and then contact the actual victim business, which was the Discovery Shop,” Checke said in a phone call.
The American Cancer Society Discovery Shop owner declined to pursue prosecution for any criminal charges as she “just wanted the items returned,” Checke said.
Both the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop and Cooks’ Junction owners requested police admonish (provide a formal warning) to the suspect for trespassing and theft.
