Two women were arrested after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise from multiple stores across Orange County, authorities said.
The suspects, identified as 20-year-old Sharon Nicol Calderon Pote of Hawthorne and 38-year-old Marcela Leuro of Huntington Park, were taken into custody following a theft incident during Thanksgiving weekend.
On Nov. 29, Irvine Police officers responded to reports that two women had stolen items from the Sephora store at the Irvine Spectrum Center before fleeing. Officers arrived quickly and located the suspects inside the busy shopping center. Body camera footage captured the moment police detained the pair as crowds of holiday shoppers watched.
A search of the suspects’ vehicle uncovered about $12,000 in stolen merchandise, including a large quantity of beauty products taken from stores in surrounding cities.
Both women were arrested on charges of organized retail theft, grand theft, and conspiracy.
The investigation remains ongoing.
