“On Thursday, January 13th, 2022, at 2:39 PM, the Chico Police Dispatch Center received a 911 call from the Sunglass Hut in the Chico Mall reporting another grand theft of sunglasses from the store. Officers arrived in the area within two minutes of the original call and began an area check for the suspects. Officers were unable to locate the thieves.
The investigation determined that three people walked into the store and, acting in unison, began grabbing expensive sunglasses and putting them into bags which they carried into the store with them. The suspects then fled out of the store. No weapons were brandished and no threats were made during the theft.
The suspects were described as three African American males. All were wearing dark clothing and masks.
On Friday, January 14th, 2022, at 3:53 PM, the Chico Police Dispatch Center received a 911 call from the Sunglass Hut in the Chico Mall, reporting that the suspects from the prior thefts had returned to the store and appeared to be preparing to steal merchandise. Store personnel secured the locks on the store prior to the suspects making entry, and provided Chico Police with a description of the suspects.
A responding officer observed the fleeing suspect vehicle on Forest Avenue. The suspect vehicle was abandoned in a residential apartment complex in the 1800 block of Springfield Avenue. Responding officers detained subjects associated with the theft.
RYAN FRANK ARNOLD (23) of Sacramento was identified as one of the suspects from the previous incident. He was arrested for Burglary and Grand Theft and transported to Butte County Jail for booking. An additional felony charge was requested through the Sacramento County Probation Department for ARNOLD’s violation of the terms of Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS).
