CARLSBAD, Calif. — A suspect tied to a series of organized retail thefts across multiple California counties has been arrested, Carlsbad Police announced. Katie Calderon was apprehended after allegedly stealing nearly $9,000 worth of merchandise from an Ulta Beauty store in Carlsbad last week.
The arrest was initiated by Oceanside Police, who used a high-tech license plate reader system known as Flock cameras to locate the suspect’s vehicle. The car had been added to a “hot list” as part of an ongoing investigation. Once the vehicle was flagged, officers conducted the stop and detained Calderon before transferring custody to Carlsbad authorities.
“In this case, the Flock cameras gave us the exact lead we needed,” said Gina Avalos, Media Relations representative for Oceanside Police. “This is a great example of how cooperation between agencies leads to arrests.”
Upon searching Calderon’s vehicle, police discovered hundreds of stolen items valued at around $20,000, primarily from Ulta and Sephora locations in Carlsbad and Orange County.
Carlsbad Police confirmed Calderon has been charged with commercial burglary, organized retail theft, and committing a felony while out on bail for similar crimes.
Authorities say the case highlights the growing role of technology and cross-agency collaboration in combatting organized retail theft operations.
