A San Francisco man was arrested outside of the Kohl's in Mountain View on Friday last week after he was found in possession of equipment reported stolen from a Bay Area police department.
Officers patrolling the San Antonio shopping center parking lot spotted a U-Haul van parked outside of the department store on Showers Drive shortly before 11 p.m. on Nov. 1, according to a statement released by Mountain View police on Thursday. Shortly after, officers received reports from employees that there were people inside the store who had previously stolen things.
One of those people, a 35-year-old man, was stopped by officers outside and was later identified as the person who had rented the U-Haul. Officers searched the truck and found stolen license plates, drug paraphernalia and duffel bags full of police department equipment including handcuffs.
Police confirmed that the equipment was stolen from another department in the Bay Area, but declined to name the agency. Police say the vehicle also contained "paperwork" belonging to an unnamed state agency.
The man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property.
During the U-Haul search, officers also spoke to a woman at the Kohl's and found out that she knew the man under investigation. Police searched the 28-year-old Livermore resident and found she had a bag containing stolen items from Kohl's.
The woman was staying with the man at Hotel Avante in Mountain View. She was cited for petty theft.
Police say that a third suspect, a man, was present at the scene and was walking with the man who was confronted and eventually arrested by officers. The department is still working to identify the man and apprehend him, according to the statement.
