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Retail crime crack down yields 6 pounds of processed cannabis
kohls theft
Manteca Police arrested two men from Stockton last week for attempting to steal $651 worth of items from the Manteca Kohl’s location – the same store that police believe they hit for $834 worth of merchandise in December along with other Kohl’s locations in the Central Valley

The Manteca Police Department keeps chipping away at organized retail theft in the city after they took down a duo last week that was suspected of multiple thefts from other stores in the area.

Daniel Gonzales, 31, and Jason Thompson, 46, both of Stockton, were arrested last week after they attempted to steal $651 worth of items from the Manteca Kohl’s store – a haul that included clothing, sunglasses, and electronics.

The Manteca Police Department was contacted by Kohl’s Loss Prevention team that recognized the pair from other similar crimes that occurred in Lodi. When Officer Sal Montero and Detective Dave Brown responded, they located Gonzales and Thompson as they were attempting to leave the area.

Detective Brown, who is assigned to organized retail crime for the Manteca Police Department and has become a go-to expert for other agencies looking to get a handle on the illegal practice, recognized the same burgundy Honda Civic being driven by Thompson as the vehicle that was used to get away with $834 worth of merchandise back in December.

When officers searched the vehicle, they discovered the stolen merchandise as well as six pounds of processed cannabis – enough to fill an entire garbage bag as well as several other Ziploc bags.

Gonzales was arrested for organized retail theft and conspiracy to commit theft since he was working with a partner. Thompson will face the same charges as well as possession of cannabis for sale, transportation of illegal cannabis, and driving without a license.

Thompson’s license expired in 2011 and was never properly renewed.

The bust is just the latest in a long string of organized retail crimes that were thwarted by the Manteca Police since assigning a full-time detective to the growing law enforcement concern – which often leads to higher prices for law-abiding consumers that have to make up the loss that the retailer ultimately suffers.

Last week Detective Brown also played a role in arresting a pair from Tracy that were attempting to use a stolen credit card to purchase $983 worth of merchandise from the Manteca JC Penney store. When officers searched the pair’s vehicle, they discovered a card reader that is commonly used to put account information on credit cards to make them easier for thieves to use in stores.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.