PETALUMA, Calif. — Three suspects, including Anastasia Offord, 53, and Janette Smith, 45, both of Richmond, were arrested Saturday night after allegedly stealing 15 bottles of alcohol from a Safeway in the Leghorn Marketplace, in what authorities describe as organized retail theft.
According to Petaluma police, the incident occurred around 10 p.m., when officers responded to a report of multiple individuals shoplifting alcohol from the store on Sonoma Mountain Parkway.
Witnesses provided a description of the suspects and their vehicle, which led police to a nearby traffic stop. Inside, officers found Offord and Smith in possession of the stolen bottles.
A third passenger, Collette Trotter, 54, of Walnut Creek, was also arrested after allegedly giving officers a false identity.
During questioning, both Offord and Smith admitted they had traveled to Petaluma specifically to steal alcohol, according to police.
All three were booked into Sonoma County Jail and face multiple charges, including:
Enhanced petty theft
Shoplifting
Conspiracy to commit theft
Providing false identification (for Trotter)
A background check also revealed that Janette Smith has at least two prior theft convictions, increasing the severity of the current charges.
Petaluma Police emphasized their commitment to cracking down on organized retail theft, which involves coordinated theft operations targeting retail stores for large quantities of goods.
“The Petaluma Police Department remains committed to addressing organized retail theft and holding offenders accountable,” the agency said in a statement.
