3 Facing Drug, Theft Charges In Petaluma Shoplifting Scheme
PETALUMA (CBS SF) - Three men were arrested in Petaluma over the weekend on suspicion of drug and theft offenses after the trio allegedly robbed a Kohl's department store, according to police.
Officers responded around 3:45 p.m. Saturday to a report of two men shoplifting several hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise at the Kohl's at 1363 N. McDowell Blvd. in Petaluma, police said.
Store security officers told police that the two men grabbed items from store shelves and stashed them under their clothing and in bags. The two men then left the store without paying and got into a waiting car driven by another man, according to police.
Officers located the vehicle after it left the shopping center and stopped it a short distance from the store.
A search of the car turned up a number of stolen items from Kohl's in addition to including prescription drugs, drug paraphernalia and a small amount of methamphetamine, police said.
Officers also found the three men to be in possession of checkbooks and credit cards not belonging to the suspects as well as several tools used to subdue department store security devices.
Police arrested the two men who allegedly shoplifted at Kohl's, identified as 25-year-old Cody Benson of Rohnert Park and Cotati resident Jacob Allred, 21. The alleged driver of the getaway car in the attempted burglary, 25-year-old Santa Rosa man Geoffrey Campbell, was also arrested.
All three were taken to Sonoma County Jail.
Campbell was being held without bail for having two outstanding arrest warrants for drug-related offenses. Benson was also in custody without bail for violating the terms of his parole, according to police.
Allred posted $10,000 bail and was released.
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