Berkeley Shoplifting Probe Leads To Drug Bust: Cops

BERKELEY, CA — A shoplifting investigation at a Berkeley sporting goods store last week led to a drug bust, police said.

The Saturday night incident at the Gilman Street REI store resulted in the arrest of three Central Valley men were arrested: a 38-year-old Placerville man on suspicion of drug related charges and theft, a 43-year-old Folsom man on suspicion of drug-related charges, and a 41-year-old Carmichael man on suspicion of theft, according to police.

Officers during a search of the suspect vehicle found heroin, fentanyl, approximately 10 ounces of cocaine, two digital scales, and about $6,900 cash.

An officer at around 7 p.m. who had just left the REI store investigating the shop’s fourth reported shoplifting incident that day noticed two men acting suspiciously as they walked from their vehicle to the REI store, police said.

The officer conducted a records check of the vehicle, which revealed that the vehicle’s owner had a suspended driver’s license, police said.

When the officer approached the vehicle, they could see a glass pipe and a torch style lighter which is commonly used to smoke drugs.

While shining his flashlight inside the station wagon, the Folsom man emerged from the backseat, police said,

As the officer spoke with the man in the backseat, the two other two men exited the store carrying brand new items from the store that the officer suspected were stolen, police said.

Officers detained the suspects and found the contraband during a search of the vehicle, police said.