Distraction thefts have been happening across Southern California, and the Irvine Police Department has been working hard to prevent and deter them from happening in Irvine. Earlier this month, the IPD took a report of a distraction theft at the Trader Joe’s at Culver and Walnut.
During the investigation, the IPD learned that the stolen credit cards were used at the Irvine Spectrum. The IPD’s Spectrum Team obtained valuable evidence, including a license plate on the suspect’s vehicle.
The IPD Crime Impact Unit (CIU) then surveilled the vehicle and watched three suspects commit a burglary from a store in Placentia.
CIU quickly detained four suspects as they were about to leave the parking lot. Their partners from the Placentia Police Department arrived to help out. They took an adult and a juvenile into custody for shoplifting.
Scarlett Ibanez Ramirez, 24, and Valentina Barrios Rodriguez, 22, of Lomita, were arrested for grand theft, conspiracy, burglary, and identity theft.
Since the IPD is a full-service operation, they were also happy to help Ramirez take care of two felony warrants for her arrest out of Northern California.
Both suspects were booked at the Orange County Jail.
