Three women from Orange County have been arrested following the discovery of over $12,500 in stolen merchandise linked to multiple retail thefts throughout the region, authorities confirmed.
The suspects were identified by Irvine police as 18-year-old Sara Alexandru of Garden Grove, 19-year-old Simara Ghiocel of Westminster, and 19-year-old Sara Mihalaiche, also of Garden Grove.
The investigation began on June 30 when automatic license plate readers flagged a van believed to be involved in a previous retail theft incident at an Ulta Beauty store in Los Angeles. Irvine police tracked the vehicle as it was exiting the Alton Square shopping center. Officers initiated surveillance on the van and followed it as it entered a nearby residential neighborhood.
According to police, once inside the neighborhood, the occupants abruptly stopped the van and attempted to flee on foot. Officers pursued the suspects into surrounding areas. Body camera footage—later blurred for privacy—captured the moments officers located and arrested the three women, who were hiding in various locations throughout the neighborhood.
A subsequent search of the suspects’ vehicle revealed merchandise valued at more than $12,500. Investigators later confirmed the items had been stolen from a series of retail stores across Irvine, Santa Ana, and Costa Mesa.
The trio was transported to Orange County Jail, where they were booked on several felony charges, including organized retail theft, grand theft, and burglary. Authorities have not released information on theft incidents beyond those listed.
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