Petaluma Police Arrest Four Suspects In A Rash Of Big Box Store Shoplifting Attempts

PETALUMA, CA — Petaluma police arrested four suspects in a rash of separate thefts at local retail stores including Target and Nike.

On Friday, police arrested a man leaving the Target store on Kenilworth Drive with merchandise they said was stolen, then pushing an employee who attempted to intervene.

Police identified the man as Leo Schild, 44, of Rohnert Park.

He was also carrying what officers believed to be methamphetamine and a meth pipe, police said.

Schild was booked into county jail for robbery, shoplifting, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance.

On Sunday, officers responded to a call reporting a theft in progress at the Nike Factory store on Petaluma Blvd North. They arrested a supsect, Chaz Troy Burnett, 44, of San Francisco who they said was observed stealing merchandise worth $699.95.

Burnett attempted to flee from officers and hide the stolen items in nearby bushes before police were able to detain him. He was transported to the Sonoma County jail and booked for shoplifting, theft, and resisting arrest.

Later on Sunday, officers responded to a report that two suspects at the Target store were concealing merchandise.

Police said they found Maria Medina Espinoza, 27 and Ermes Romero Parrado, 26 — both Santa Rosa residents — with about $1,354 worth of items that they had no method of paying for.

Both were arrested for shoplifting and conspiracy.