On Thursday, December 5, 2024, members of the Austin Police Department's (APD) North Metro Tactical Unit and North Criminal Investigation Division conducted a proactive "shoplifting blitz" operation in the Lakeline Mall area of North Austin, Williamson County, Texas. This operation was designed to assist local retailers with shoplifters by conducting apprehensions and taking appropriate law enforcement action.

As a result of the operation:

• Officers responded to four active shoplifting cases that included a call regarding four individuals working in concert and three frequent offenders that stores had been unable to successfully detain on their own.
• Nine custodial arrests of suspects were made for offenses including Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Theft, Possession of a Controlled Substance (POCS), and Request to Apprehend.
• They identified suspects who are responsible for additional outstanding cases with local retailers.
• They recovered approximately $7,500 in stolen property.

Case Summaries:

APD Case # 24-3400576 Kohl’s located at 11111 Lakeline Blvd.

Officers were notified of a group of four individuals inside Kohl’s who were actively concealing unpaid merchandise in a baby stroller. Officers responded to the area as the suspects exited the store with the merchandise. The suspects initially attempted to flee, leaving the stroller of stolen merchandise behind, but were quickly apprehended.

Officers recovered approximately $1,100 in merchandise and seized an additional $1,200 in stolen merchandise from two other stores from their vehicle. The following suspects were charged with one count of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity (3rd Degree Felony) and transported to the Williamson County Jail.

24-3400790 Lowe’s located at 13201 N FM 620

Officers received information that a known high value repeat offender, Javier Rios, was inside Lowe’s. Officers responded to the area as Rios walked out of the store with a flatbed cart carrying an unpaid AC Unit valued at $2,156. Rios was arrested for Theft, State Jail Felony, as well as two outstanding arrest warrants charging Larceny. Officers located a shower kit inside Rios' vehicle valued at $609 that had been stolen from a separate Lowe’s location on that same date.

24-3400796 Target located at 10900 Lakeline Mall Drive

Officers responded to a report of a known theft suspect who was removing an anti-theft device from an electronics item inside the store. The suspect, Donovan Clausen, exited the store with several items of unpaid merchandise and employees attempted to stop him and recover the property. Clausen fled on foot but was detained near a vehicle, where he had met with a female subject. Officers recovered merchandise valued at $613.70.

Officers located additional stolen merchandise and quantities of narcotics inside the vehicle. The additional merchandise was determined to be jewelry and beauty items taken from Target and Kohl’s. These items were valued at approximately $1,050.

Clausen was charged with one count of Theft and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. 

The female, Christina Shell (44 years of age), was arrested and charged with two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance.
  

24-3400886 Target located at 10900 Lakeline Mall Drive

Employees reported that a known high value repeated offender, Martin Morales, was loading a shopping cart with merchandise inside Target. Morales pushed the cart out of the store and was confronted by an employee. Morales abandoned the shopping cart and entered a vehicle in the parking lot. The vehicle left the area as officers arrived. Officers located and stopped the vehicle. They identified Morales and placed him under arrest for Theft, State Jail Felony. They identified the driver of the vehicle as Crystal Overby, and learned she had an active warrant for her arrest.