White Settlement police arrest a couple accused of stealing boots. In one case police say the man stuffed as many as four pairs of boots in his pants at one time!
Police got their license plate and a felony theft warrant for the couple, but before detectives could find them, they hit the store again. That was two days in a row.
When it happened Sunday, employees recognized them and called 9-1-1, but police didn't get there in time.
Finally, on Tuesday, police were able to track them down to a motel in Northwest Fort Worth using license plate reader technology. Officers arrested 57-year-old Valentine Cardenas and his wife 47-year-old Melissa Marez. They got a search warrant and found lots of boots as well as ball caps, and clothes believed to have been taken from both Boot Barn and Cavender’s Boot City.
Investigators believe they are involved in a retail theft ring across North Texas and say other family members would sell the items they stole on Facebook marketplace.
Police are now working with other departments to link other crimes and find more suspects.
Police Chief Christopher Cook says, "Deterring retail theft is an important priority for our department and these cases highlight the excellent work completed by our Patrol Division and Criminal Investigations Unit."
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