Theft at Sephora
At 9:30 p.m., on February 11, 2015, officers were called to the Sephora store at Third Street Promenade regarding a theft that occurred at the store.
Investigating Theft
When officers arrived at the Sephora, they immediately made contact with a loss prevention staffer who had observed that the suspect, Yijao Kong, of Los Angeles, had several items in a store provided basket in addition to a personal handbag.
While conducting a routine inventory check of the store floor, the staffer had encountered Kong a few times. As the staffer passed Kong again they noticed that the items in the store provided basket had significantly decreased. Some of the items were seen inside the personal handbag.
The Sephora staffer continued to monitor Kong as she approached the front of the store and then left without paying for the concealed merchandise. Kong was detained by store security outside the store.
Stolen Merchandise
A search done by the staffer and police revealed Kong was in possession of $1,100 worth of merchandise.
Charges for Theft
Kong was arrested for grand theft and her bail was set at $20,000.
In California, “shoplifting” is classified as a general theft offense. This offense is then classified according to the value of the items that have been taken. Grand theft charges are assigned when the shoplifting offense includes items that are valued at more than $400.
Grand theft charges can be files as a misdemeanor or a felony. The determination is made by a prosecutor and depend on the shoplifter’s criminal history.
If you are convicted of grand theft you can face a prison sentence of one year as well as fines.
Source: Santa Monica Daily Press, Promenade theft suspect hid Sephora merchandise in handbag (crime watch), February 14, 2015
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