Texas police arrest nine suspects in four cases during shoplifting raid near suburban mall

Austin, Texas, police arrested nine suspects in connection with four thefts at Target, Kohl’s and Lowe’s during holiday shopping this week near Lakeline Mall. It was part of a blitzkrieg operation.

In one case, four people allegedly tried to hide unpaid merchandise from Kohl’s in an empty stroller.

The suspect left the stroller behind during a confrontation with officers outside the store, but was arrested a short time later, the Austin Police Department said in a news release.

Police seized approximately $1,100 in merchandise from the stroller and another $1,200 in stolen goods inside the vehicle.

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Melan Gomez, 20, Alexis Garza, 25, Jesus Jimenez-Gomez, 22, and Jessica Gomez, 23, were each charged with one count A third-degree felony count of engaging in organized criminal activity.

Melan Gomez, 20, Alexis Garza, 25, Jesus Jimenez-Gomez, 22, and Jessica Gomez, 23, were charged with one count of participating in A third-degree felony count of organizing criminal activity. (Austin Police Department)

In the second case, a “high-value repeat offender” named Javier Rios allegedly walked out of a Lowe’s in the area with a flatbed truck that It contained $2,156 worth of air-conditioning equipment, which he allegedly failed to pay for, leading to his arrest.

Police also found a $609 shower set in his car that he allegedly stole from another Lowe’s that day.

Rios was charged with larceny and a state jail felony. He also had two outstanding warrants for his arrest on burglary charges.

In the second case, a “high-value repeat offender” named Javier Rios allegedly walked out of a Lowe’s in the area with a flatbed truck containing He was arrested for air conditioning equipment worth $2,156, which he failed to pay for. (Austin Police Department)

“It definitely happens a lot more than people think,” Hemline Austin clothing store assistant manager Molly McClanahan told Fox 7 about the shoplifting incident. “I think it happens in the larger stores. It happens more because there’s more room to hide or there’s more room to run.”

Hemline Austin limits the number of items customers can try on to prevent locker room theft, she said.

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In a third case, police arrested a man and woman identified as 23-year-old Donovan Clausen, a repeat offender, in the parking lot of a Target store. After a confrontation with store employees, he allegedly fled the store with $614 in stolen goods.

He met 44-year-old Christina Shell in the car, where police said they found $1,050 worth of stolen jewelry and beauty supplies, as well as drugs, from Target and Kohl’s stores.

Clawson was charged with one count of larceny and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Shell was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Christina Schell was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and Donovan Clawson was charged with one count of larceny and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. (Austin Police Department)

In the final case, another “high-value repeat offender” was arrested after allegedly fleeing in a car with a woman.

The man, Martin Morales, 54, was allegedly confronted by Target employees as he left the store and fled into his car, leaving a car full of unpaid items shopping cart.

Martin Morales was arrested on burglary and state jail felony charges after being pulled over by police. Crystal Overby, who was allegedly driving the vehicle, had an active arrest warrant. (Austin Police Department)

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Morales was arrested on theft and state jail felony charges after being pulled over by police. Crystal Overby, who was allegedly driving the vehicle, had an active arrest warrant.