Several people have been arrested in a robbery operation near the Austin mall

AUSTIN, Texas (KWTX) – Several people have been arrested in separate incidents during a shoplifting operation near an Austin mall.

In the first incident, police say officers were notified that four people inside Khol’s at 11111 Lakeline Blvd. they were placing items in a baby carriage in an attempt to steal them.

Police say officers arrived on the scene as the suspects were leaving the store with the stolen items.

According to police, the suspects attempted to flee while leaving the cart of stolen items behind, but were apprehended a short time later.

Officers recovered $1,100 in merchandise from the cart and an additional $1,200 in merchandise stolen from two other stores in the suspect’s vehicle.

Melain Gomez, 20, Alexis Garza, 25, Jessica Gomez, 23, and Jesus Jimenez-Gomez, 22, were each charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and taken to the Williamson County Jail.

In the second incident, police say officers received information that a high-value repeat offender, identified as Javier Rios, was inside the Lowe’s at 13201 North FM 620.

Police say officers arrived on the scene when Rios, 41, left the store with a stolen AC unit valued at $2,156.

Rios was later arrested for theft and two outstanding warrants for theft, according to police.

Additionally, police say officers found a shower kit in Rios’ vehicle, valued at $609, that was stolen from a separate Lowe’s that same day.

In the third incident, police say officers received the target at 10900 Lakeline Mall Drive on reports of a known shoplifting suspect taking anti-theft devices from electronics at the store.

Police say the suspect, identified as Donovan Clausen, left the store with several stolen items and employees tried to stop him.

Clausen fled the scene on foot, but was later arrested by police near a vehicle where he encountered a woman, according to police.

Officers recovered $613.70 in stolen items, according to police.

Additionally, officers say officers found several stolen items and narcotics inside the vehicle.

Additional stolen items were determined to be jewelry and beauty items taken from Target and Khol valued at $1,050.

Clausen is charged with theft and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

The woman, identified as 44-year-old Christina Shell, was arrested and charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

In the final incident, police say employees at the Target at 10900 Lakeline Mall Drive reported that a high-value repeat offender, identified as Martin Morales, was loading a shopping cart with items inside the store.

According to police, Morales, 54, pushed the cart outside and was confronted by an employee.

After that, police say Morales left the shopping cart and entered a vehicle in the parking lot.

The vehicle left the area when officers arrived at the scene, but police say officers later located and stopped the vehicle.

Morales was later arrested for theft and the driver of the vehicle, identified as 44-year-old Crystal Overby, was arrested on an active warrant.

In total, police say they recovered $7,500 in stolen items from the incidents.

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