Shoplifting Suspect Threatened Staff, Stole $1K In Items: Police

SAN MATEO, CA — Police arrested a 53-year-old man suspected of stealing $1,000 worth of items from a San Mateo store after threatening the staff with pepper spray over the weekend.

Hayward resident James Bell was arrested on suspicion of robbery and other crimes in connection with the heist at a Ross Dress for Less store on Concar Drive in San Mateo.

The robbery was reported about 1:30 p.m. Saturday, when management told police that a man allegedly took $1,000 worth of merchandise, threatened staff with pepper spray and left without paying.

Bell was seen getting into a vehicle and fleeing the parking lot and speeding away, police said. Employees gave police the suspect's license plate number.

While officers were on the way to the store, they spotted the suspect driving recklessly and entering eastbound Highway 92.

Officers tried to pull the car over, but the suspect didn't yield and a short pursuit ensued.

"Due to his unsafe driving, Bell eventually collided with a guard rail causing his vehicle to roll and eject Bell. Thankfully, no one else on the highway was injured by this," police said in a news release Monday.

Bell was taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released, and then booked at San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of robbery, being a felon in possession of pepper spray, evading police, license plate fraud and driving on a suspended license.

The stolen property, amounting to about $1,072, was recovered.

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