On Aug.29 at approximately 3:25 p.m., aloss prevention agent at the Banana Republic store on Third Street Promenade saw thesuspect enter the store and immediately recognized him from previous thefts.
The agent watched the suspect walk to the men's department and pick out a leather belt. After walking to a nearby corner of the store, the suspect removed a belt he was wearing and put the store's belt on. The suspect then walked past the registers without paying for the belt and left the store.
The agent stopped the suspect outside the store and asked him to give the belt back. The suspect handed the belt to the agent and then tried running away southbound. Officers located the suspect shortly afterward and detained him.
After being positively identified by the loss prevention agent, the suspect was taken into custody and later booked at the Santa Monica jail.
A check of the suspect's criminal history showed he was on probation for similar thefts. David Eugene Hamilton, 24, of Los Angeles had bail set at $10,000.
