Shoplifting Report Leads to Drug Bust in Coolidge Corner

Brookline Police officers responded to a report of a shoplifting at Brookline Booksmith at 4:55 p.m. on March 13.

Officers found a woman who matched the description of the suspects on Harvard Street. When a witness pointed out the suspect, the suspect handed a tote-bag to the witness and headed for a white Cadillac parked across the street.

At this point, the officer approached the vehicle, with the suspect seated in the front passenger seat and two males in the driver seat and rear seat respectively.

The officer ordered the driver to turn off the engine when the vehicle lurched as if the driver had taken his foot off the break. The female suspect got out of the car and approached the officer. The officer obtained a positive identification on the woman and backup identified the two males. Officers noted that the two males in the car were reportedly making furtive movements as if they were trying to conceal something.

Officers saw a white plastic bag containing various items with CVS price tags. The officer took this bag to the CVS at 294 Harvard Street and asked an employee to see if these were stolen. The loss prevention employee confirmed that $243.43 worth goods were stolen and there was video footage of the female suspect leaving through the back door without paying.

An employee of CVS asked the woman if she had proof of purchase, which the woman claimed was in the car. When the employee followed her, she offered the employee $50 and said that she had left the receipt a home and would return soon to collect the $50 as collateral. The employee refused this, so the woman gave the employee the bag and got in the Cadillac.

Officers found another bag with goods from Brookline Booksmith. After an employee scanned the goods, officers determined that there was $414.08 worth of stolen goods in the bag.

Officers arrested Linda Estrella, 47, of 240 Albany Street, Cambridge, Pedro Rivera, 54, 279 Bowdoin Street, Dorchester, and Eric Mahar, 31, 40 Mann Street, Braintree.

During the booking process, officers found a small clear bag with a brown powder in Estrella’s wallet. Officers found four 8mg/2mg pills of Suboxone, a pill requiring prescription in order to treat heroin/opiate addiction. Without a prescription, Suboxone is a Class C substance.

Estrella was charged with two counts of larceny from a building, possession of a Class A substance and possession of a Class C substance.

Rivera and Mahar were charged with two counts of larceny from a building.