Nice Catch — The SCV Talk Archive

Nice Catch

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

SCVTV continues with its great crime reporting (Sadly it’s still only available on Facebook):

On October 27, 2010, a suspect entered Ro, Ma Jewelers on Town Center Drive and was looking at at Tag Heuer watch valued at $6,000. The suspect abruptly ran out of the store, stealing the watch. A crime report was taken and an investigation was initiated.

With the help of the jewelry store employees, detectives were able to locate an identical watch for sale on the internet. The detective made contact with the seller and set up a meeting to buy the watch. The seller suggested they meet at the Valencia Town Center Mall. An undercover operation was set up and today the detective met with the seller who he immediately identified as the suspect in the original theft from security videos at the jewelry store. The suspect showed the detective the watch. The detective verified the serial number and signaled the assisting detectives to make the arrest. When contacted, the suspect resisted and a struggle ensued causing the suspect and deputies to fall into a glass fragrance display case inside the Macy’s store, causing the glass to break. The suspect was ultimately taken into custody. The suspect and two deputies received minor injuries during the struggle. The suspect and deputies were treated at the hospital and released.

The suspect was booked at Santa Clarita Valley Station for Grand Theft, Burglary and Forcibly Resisting A Police Officer. He is currently being held on the indicated charges with a $25,000 bail.

The investigation is being handled by the Santa Clarita Valley Detectives.

I consider myself a ~~watch~~ timepiece connoisseur and I bought my wife’s engagement ring at Ro, Ma Jewelers so this story has special significance for me. You’d have to be a real moron (not to mention a ballsy one) to try and sell your stolen item just a few steps from the store you yanked it from. I bet the Macy’s security footage is pretty entertaining, and if any perfume bottles were broken, the entire place probably smelled.

Nice catch on the part of SCV detectives!

Comments (6)

mikeNovember 4, 2010 at 10:10 am

“if any perfume bottles were broken, the entire place probably smelled.” Impossible. All department stores, everywhere, always smell the same. Laws of physics.

Coastal SageNovember 4, 2010 at 11:04 am

Jeff, as a watch collector, you should look at stauer-dot-com. No ad intended, but we swear by these watches because they’re cool looking and reasonably priced. Far, far more reasonable than a $6,000 watch.

Sean HerronNovember 4, 2010 at 11:51 am

Good job catching the guy, but I have to wonder…why would they use a crowded mall for this? What if the guy had a weapon on him and pulled it out in the middle of a department store? Of course, maybe they did the sting in parking lot and the guy ran into the store. Still, however, is it common practice to do these sorts of things in areas where there are lots of people (and TONS of children in the case of the Valencia Town Center)?

JDNovember 4, 2010 at 3:25 pm

What if , what if…… How about, good job and stay safe!

CCNovember 4, 2010 at 12:28 pm

Wow, that’s cool. Right here in Awsometown no less. Kudos to the officers and hope they weren’t hurt too badly.

SFC PerezNovember 4, 2010 at 3:04 pm

They shouldve been ready to taser him once he resisted but I dont want to second guess the officers putting their lives on the line dealing with crimes like this.

mikeNovember 4, 2010 at 10:10 am
“if any perfume bottles were broken, the entire place probably smelled.” Impossible. All department stores, everywhere, always smell the same. Laws of physics.
Coastal SageNovember 4, 2010 at 11:04 am
Jeff, as a watch collector, you should look at stauer-dot-com. No ad intended, but we swear by these watches because they’re cool looking and reasonably priced. Far, far more reasonable than a $6,000 watch.
Sean HerronNovember 4, 2010 at 11:51 am
Good job catching the guy, but I have to wonder…why would they use a crowded mall for this? What if the guy had a weapon on him and pulled it out in the middle of a department store? Of course, maybe they did the sting in parking lot and the guy ran into the store. Still, however, is it common practice to do these sorts of things in areas where there are lots of people (and TONS of children in the case of the Valencia Town Center)?
JDNovember 4, 2010 at 3:25 pm
What if , what if…… How about, good job and stay safe!
CCNovember 4, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Wow, that’s cool. Right here in Awsometown no less. Kudos to the officers and hope they weren’t hurt too badly.
SFC PerezNovember 4, 2010 at 3:04 pm
They shouldve been ready to taser him once he resisted but I dont want to second guess the officers putting their lives on the line dealing with crimes like this.