COSTA MESA, CA — Two women have been arrested in connection with a large-scale organized retail theft operation, following a pursuit that led to the recovery of more than $20,000 in stolen Lululemon merchandise.
The incident occurred on Saturday, shortly before 7:45 p.m., when officers at South Coast Plaza were alerted to a grand theft in progress at Lululemon. Four female suspects were reportedly involved, with two of them fleeing the scene on foot and two others — Latasha Marie Brown, 36, of Clinton, Iowa, and Laporsha Holloway, 37, of Chicago — escaping in a vehicle.
Costa Mesa police soon located the vehicle and initiated a pursuit. However, when the suspects sped onto the 55 Freeway, the pursuit was called off. With assistance from the Huntington Beach Police Department’s helicopter and officers from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the vehicle was eventually stopped on State Route 241.
Upon arrest, officers discovered stolen merchandise from Lululemon along with several garbage bags filled with what is believed to be additional stolen clothing from other stores, all valued at more than $20,000.
Brown and Holloway were arrested and booked on suspicion of grand theft, evading police, and conspiracy to commit a crime. The two other suspects who fled on foot remain at large.
Investigators suspect the four women are part of a larger retail theft ring targeting multiple locations. Costa Mesa police are continuing their investigation, working alongside CHP’s Retail Theft Task Force and other law enforcement agencies to dismantle organized theft operations throughout Orange County.
Costa Mesa police expressed their gratitude for the collaborative efforts of Huntington Beach PD and CHP in apprehending the suspects.
