Salt Lake City police apprehended three individuals on Wednesday, Feb. 14, following a series of thefts that targeted various stores across the Wasatch Front. Mijail Jardines Castanon, 36, Maria Jardinas, 46, and Andrea Casas, 38, were taken into custody and subsequently booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail. The trio now faces charges of felony theft and possession of a theft detection shielding device. Additionally, Jardines Castanon is charged with providing a false identity to law enforcement.
According to the Salt Lake City Police Department, the suspects are accused of stealing a significant amount of merchandise, including 114 pairs of shoes, 153 handbags, 82 wallets, 400 pieces of clothing, and 18 miscellaneous clothing accessories. Investigators estimate the total value of the stolen items to exceed $10,000 at retail prices.
The arrest unfolded after authorities received a call around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, reporting an ongoing theft at a store near 1200 East Brickyard Road. Loss prevention personnel at the store provided responding officers with a detailed description of the suspects and their vehicle, along with surveillance footage. The footage allegedly revealed all three suspects concealing stolen items within their clothing and using a magnetic tool to remove theft protection devices from high-value items.
Further investigation revealed that the three individuals were linked to at least 13 separate thefts across various store locations in the valley. The suspects were safely detained, and their van was located in the parking lot of the store where the theft was reported. A subsequent search warrant was obtained for the van, leading to the discovery of the allegedly stolen merchandise.
