Two men from Stockton picked the wrong day to try and walk out of the Lathrop Target store with shopping carts full of Red Bull and Pokémon cards they didn’t pay for.

They didn’t take into account the Lathrop Police Department patrol unit that just so happened to be in parking lot at the time that the two exited the store – promptly taking both men into custody and recovering more than $2,100 worth of merchandise they were attempting to steal.

Both men were charged with theft and conspiracy, and upon further investigation police learned that one of the men was wanted for grand theft of baby formula earlier this year. That suspect was charged in that case as well.

Law enforcement agencies from throughout San Joaquin County have been trying to find ways to combat organized retail theft – where thieves target specific stores for specific products that they steal in bulk to sell on online resale sites and through popular social media channels.

In Manteca, for example, police have dedicated a detective full-time to working closely with retailers to identify suspects and apprehend them before they get away with the merchandise. The brazen thefts have prompted stores in some California cities to close their doors while others have resorted to locking up merchandise that happens to be in demand.