Novato Burglary Investigation Leads To 2 Arrests

NOVATO, CA — A Marin burglary investigation led to the arrests of two San Francisco women, police said.

Tammi Jean Jones, 56, was arrested on suspicion of providing false information to a peace officer, possession of stolen property, grand theft, and commercial burglary, police said. Melisa Ann Lynn Rodriguez, 32 was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of ammunition, possession of controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia and for outstanding warrants, police said.

Both suspects were booked into Marin County Jail.

Officers at around 11:15 a.m. Friday were dispatched to the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center on the report of a retail theft that had just occurred at Designer Shoe Warehouse, police said.

Employees reported that a woman stole merchandise valued at over $900 and drove away in a white Honda minivan, police said.

While investigating the theft, officers learned that a woman matching the suspect’s description was involved in the theft of merchandise valued at approximately $3,000 from a Novato Ulta Beauty store (108 Vintage Way STE B2)

Officers located an unoccupied white Honda minivan that matched the description of the suspect vehicle in the parking lot near the Novato Target store, police said.

Officers surveilled the Honda for approximately 30 minutes before a woman matching the suspect’s description returned to the Honda, police said.

Officers detained Jones and learned she had just been detained by the loss prevention team at the Target store while attempting to leave with a shopping cart full of clothing valued at around $2,700, police said.

Officers found stolen merchandise from the DSW theft in plain view and located over $1,800 worth of stolen alcohol that was linked to a Sonoma County retail theft.

Jones initially provided a false name to the officers at the scene and was later identified by jail records, police said.

The second suspect, Lynn Rodriguez, was also contacted in connection with the investigation, police said.

Officers discovered that Rodriguez had several outstanding warrants for her arrest and was found to be in possession of controlled substances, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia, police said.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Novato Police Department at (415) 897-4361.