Deputies jailed a man who they say shoplifted from three Apple Valley stores in just over an hour this week.
The series of alleged thefts began about 2:25 p.m. Tuesday, when employees at Old Navy, 20346 Highway 18, reported a man had just stolen merchandise, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials said.
“At 2:41 pm, dispatch received a call from Ross reporting they also had a subject leave the store without paying for merchandise,” according to a sheriff’s department statement. “The description given by the employee at Ross closely matched the description given by Old Navy.”
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Following the theft at Ross, 20352 Highway 18, authorities received a third report from a neighboring Target store at 3:35 p.m..
“Employees reported a subject with the same description as the two previous calls had left the store through an emergency exit after opening and consuming alcohol inside the store,” the statement said.
After causing disturbances at two nearby fast food restaurants, deputies took 36-year-old Oscar Aguirre into custody, according to sheriff’s officials and county records.
He was booked on suspicion of petty theft with prior convictions for the same, public intoxication and disturbing the peace, according to San Bernardino County jail records. Bail was at $30,000 pending court proceedings.
Prior to the implementation of Prop. 36, which was overwhelmingly passed by California voters in November, the alleged crimes would have resulted in citation and release.
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“These new charges can carry enhanced sentencing, as well as prevent offenders from being cite-released, prior to their court appearance,” the sheriff’s department statement said.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Man accused of stealing from 3 Apple Valley stores in just over an hour