Criminals often return to the scene of the crime and that rarely works out well for them. In the latest example of this Ivy Tseng, an Irvine resident, returned to an REI store in Tustin today and committed yet another theft, according to the Tustin Police Department.
This time however Tseng was recognized as she left the store.
Police officers located her in the Tustin Marketplace and she was arrested for four thefts from REI.
The Tustin Police Department thanks today’s reporting party who identified a female resident of Irvine as our unidentified suspect.
In California, the penalties for theft depend on the value of the stolen items and the number of offenses. Here’s a general overview:
- Petty Theft: If the value of the stolen items is $950 or less, it’s considered petty theft. This is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in county jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
- Grand Theft: If the value exceeds $950, it’s classified as grand theft. This can be charged as either a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in county jail) or a felony (16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in state prison).
Since the suspect stole from a high-end store four separate times, the penalties could be more severe due to the repeated offenses. California’s Three Strikes Law can lead to harsher penalties for repeat offenders, potentially doubling the sentence or leading to a life sentence upon a third strike.
