5 arrests for stealing sunglasses totaling $40,000 at Valley Plaza Mall

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – Bakersfield police say five people have been arrested and three are still at large in connection with thefts at Sunglass Hut totaling more than $40,000.

On the evening of May 20, three people entered Macy’s in Valley Plaza shopping center, went to the Sunglass Hut and grabbed designer sunglasses. They fled after spraying anti-theft staff with pepper spray, police said.

In total, around 52 pairs of sunglasses worth $15,000 were stolen.

A detective with the Organized Shoplifting Unit identified the three suspects in an earlier theft on May 17. In that theft, the suspects fled with 49 pairs of sunglasses valued at more than $17,000, police said.

Authorities issued arrest warrants for Natalie Saucedo (28), Veronica Alvarez (29) and Richard Gann (29). They are still at large, the BPD said.

Investigators also identified two suspected co-conspirators in the May 17 theft. Nathan Perry and Carrissa Jaquez, both 33, were arrested on charges of organized shoplifting.

During their investigation, officers also determined that the stolen merchandise was being sold at the Smoke Shop in the 1900 block of Beale Avenue. Investigators executed a search warrant and found 21 pairs of stolen sunglasses valued at $8,096, the BPD said.

During the search, the BPD also confiscated the following items:

• 103 cosmetic products allegedly stolen from both Rite Aid and Walgreens
• 339 Cannabis vaporizers
• 35 containers of THC wax
• 11 THC Edibles
• 19 grams of methamphetamine
• Springfield XD45 pistol

Adam Gonzales, 29, Raul Cortes, 31, and Joseph Casillas, 28, were arrested on suspicion of organized shoplifting, illegal possession of weapons and illegal sale of cannabis.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the remaining suspects is asked to call the BPD at 661-327-7111.