SAN MATEO, CA — A man identified as a prolific retail theft suspect was arrested in San Mateo after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of clothing from a Lululemon store at the Hillsdale Shopping Center.
According to San Mateo police, store employees reported the theft on Wednesday, saying that a man entered the Lululemon store, filled a bag with several items, and fled the scene without paying. The stolen merchandise was valued at more than $5,600.
Employees quickly recognized the suspect, who had previously stolen from the store at least seven other times since February. They provided a detailed description of the suspect and his escape route to police.
Officers located the suspect, later identified as 24-year-old Carlos Palafox from Daly City, just two blocks away from the store. Palafox initially tried to walk away from officers, but they detained him, and the bag containing the stolen merchandise was recovered.
Palafox was arrested on eight counts of second-degree burglary and eight counts of felony organized retail theft. He was booked into the San Mateo County Jail.
This arrest comes just a month after four other suspects were arrested for a separate theft at the same Lululemon store, where more than $10,000 worth of merchandise was stolen, followed by a police chase that ended in San Francisco.
