Four 16-year-old girls were arrested for stealing more than $2,600 in clothing from two Malibu boutiques in the Cross Creek area on June 6.
A sales person at one of the two upscale women’s clothing stores was alone in the store when the four girls entered. “They looked familiar, like typical teenage girls who frequent the store–wearing shirts and mini-skirts and acting a bit hyper,” she said, describing the incident.
“They took a lot of things into the dressing room, more than they are supposed to,” said the sales person. So she kept removing items from the dressing room but “they kept picking up more clothing. They turned the store upside-down, making everything a mess,” she said.
She confronted the girls when another shopper who entered the store said she had seen the teenagers putting clothing into their car, a new silver BMW, which was parked directly outside.
The sales person then went outside to the car to write down the license plate number, telling the girls that she was doing so and warning them that if they did not return the items they had taken, she would report them to the police.
“They all claimed they hadn’t taken anything and accused each other of being at fault,” she said. The sales person said the girls used their real names when they spoke to each other and their demeanor was not menacing. She said she repeatedly gave them the opportunity to return any items they had taken without suffering any consequences. She believed one of the girls had “planted” a blouse back in the dressing room before she exited from the store.
After the girls left, the sale person immediately realized a $600 dress was missing, so she called the sheriff’s department to report the burglary.
Two sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene to gather information and then proceeded to the home of the girl who had driven the BMW, where they found many stolen items. Deputies then searched the homes of the other girls where they found more clothing, which had allegedly been taken from both shops over the course of several weeks.
Confiscated items included dresses, bathing suits, belts and T-shirts.
Items were returned to the first boutique, although some merchandise, such as bathing suits, are not re-saleable. Confiscated articles were also returned to the other store, both owners identifying their own merchandise.
The sales person at the second shop said she had “suspected” that the teenagers were stealing from the store, but she had “given them the benefit of the doubt” because they were familiar faces.
“I’m not sure we got everything back,” she admitted, “but I’m sure their parents will check their closets.” She also added that she had met with the girls and their parents and “everyone was extremely regretful. I spoke to all of them personally. They definitely learned their lesson.”
The girls were brought to the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station and charged with burglary because they allegedly entered the stores with the intent to commit theft. One of the girls was not charged. Since they are minors, their case will be heard in juvenile court.
The girls and their parents have contacted the store owners to apologize and may be required to pay restitution for the items.
Another major burglary occurred recently in a men’s clothing store in the same area, but no action was taken. This incident was not related to the others.
The sales person said that stores are not insured for items stolen while the store is open.