2 Suspects Intercepted while Holiday Shopping Face Multiple Charges
SAN RAFAEL— Tis the season for traditional upticks in fraud, shoplifting and related crimes. Two suspects starting early this shopping season face multiple charges after being intercepted by deputies.
Not surprisingly, fraud and shoplifting increase in proportion to holiday shopping crowds. Studies indicate fraud soars as much as 30-40 percent, while shoplifting typically increases a few percentage points.
Two individuals allegedly participating in nefarious shopping traditions were arrested by Marin County Sheriff’s deputies. They were apprehended at Northgate Mall in San Rafael on November 20.
Leticia M. Algere, 41 of Novato, allegedly stole a purse and went shopping with the victim’s credit cards. The purse was snatched from an unlocked car and the victim was alerted about suspicious shopping activity.
Deputies located Algere inside a store, before she ran outside to a waiting car in the mall parking lot. When Algere was caught, deputies found in her possession credit cards and other items not belonging to her.
Algere was booked at Marin County Jail on five separate charges:
• Fraudulent use of access card
• Receiving stolen property
• Shoplifting
• Conspiracy
• Resisting an officer
This marks the 10th time that Algere has been arrested. Her prior arrests were mostly for illicit drug possession, fraud and petty theft.
Her companion waiting inside the parked car, David B. Cuevas, 34 of Novato, was booked on eight charges:
• Possession of controlled substances
• Possession of narcotics
• Conspiracy
• Robbery
• Petty Theft
• Receiving stolen property
• Theft
• Shoplifting
This marks the 20th time that Cuevas has been arrested. His priors include arrests for burglary, drugs, thefts and weapons possession.
