On March 2 at approximately 11:55 a.m.
The suspect entered the Banana Republic store at 1202 3rd Street Promenade and set off the store's theft alarm for an unknown reason. This caught the attention of a loss prevention agent who was working inside the store. After looking around briefly, the suspect grabbed a necklace off a jewelry display and stuck it in his pocket. The suspect then walked out of the store without paying for the necklace. The loss prevention agent followed the suspect outside and confronted him about the theft. The suspect apologized and returned to the store, but could not produce any identification. Santa Monica police officers from the Downtown Services Unit responded and took the suspect into custody. After confirming his identification, the suspect, Rey Vasquez, 24, was issued a citation for shoplifting and released. Bail was set at $500.
Note: Crime Watch is culled from reports provided by the Santa Monica Police Department. These are arrests only. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
