Group of thieves arrested at Valley Mall
UNION GAP WA December 27 2019 — Union Gap Police say they have caught a group of thieves suspected of stealing thousands of dollars worth of items from stores at the Valley Mall.
Police say officers were called of a theft at Macy’s Friday evening of a man who had been spotted stealing at least two North Face jackets.
A loss prevention officer described the suspect and said which way they were headed in a white Ford Explorer.
Police say they quickly spotted a vehicle matching the description and pulled it over.
Inside there were 4 people and police say the rear seat and rear cargo area were filled with jackets, purses, and clothing, many of them with security devices still attached.
Officers say workers at Macy’s identified a passenger, Raphael Jordan, as the person they had seen stealing the jackets.
Police say inside the vehicle they found stolen items from Victoria Secret, Torrid, Macy’s, and likely others locations as well.
According to court documents, a woman in the vehicle, Trisha Ricks, admitted to stealing some of the items, including perfumes from Victoria Secret worth $264.
Officers say the items taken Ricks took from Macy’s were valued at $657.89, the items Jordan stole from Macy’s were worth $811 and many other items in the vehicle stolen from Macy’s added up to $2684.
Along with the stolen goods, police say they found a small rubber container filled with heroin inside the vehicle.
Jordan was arrested and is charged with 2nd Degree Theft and 2nd Degree Possession of Stolen Property.
Trisha is charged with 3rd Degree Theft, 2nd Degree Possession of Stolen Property, and Possession of Heroin.
Police say if evidence shows the group of thieves targeted more than three stores there will be further charges of Retail Theft with Special Circumstances.
Investigators say the suspects are not from Yakima County, do not have local ties, and traveled to the area solely to commit these crimes.
KIMA
