3 Contra Costa Women Arrested In Booze Heist: Police

PETALUMA, CA — Three women from Contra Costa County were arrested after stealing about 15 bottles of alcohol from a Safeway in Petaluma in what police characterized as an organized retail theft, according to authorities.

Officers around 10 p.m. Saturday arrested Anastasia Offord, 53, of Richmond; Janette Smith, 45, of Richmond; and Collette Trotter, 54, of Walnut Creek, after they exited the grocery story in Leghorn Marketplace with the items but without paying, police said.

A witness gave officers a description of the trio and their vehicle, and officers stopped them shortly afterward, with Offord and Smith still in possession of the stolen merchandise, according to police.

“During questioning, both Smith and Offord admitted they had traveled to Petaluma with the intent to steal alcohol,” the Petaluma Police Department said in a social media post about the arrests.

Smith had at least two prior theft-related convictions and was charged with enhanced petty theft, shoplifting and conspiracy, police said. Trotter initially provided officers with false identification and was charged with false personation, according to police. Offord was charged with shoplifting and conspiracy, police said.

Their vehicle was towed and all three were booked into Sonoma County Jail, according to police.