With the holiday shopping season in full swing, area law enforcement agencies are reporting a rise in reported thefts and arrests.
Police arrested four adults Friday at the Home Depot in Oregon City as part of a retail theft operation at the store. Oregon City Police worked with loss prevention employees to target alleged thieves at the store.
The four individuals were Katrina Bremer, 44, of Estacada, who was arrested on an out-of-state burglary warrant; Luis Ruiz, 33, of Troutdale, who was also charged with an outstanding warrant and second-degree theft, and David Gordon, 39, and Brandy Clark, 32, both of Washington State and both charged with third-degree theft.
Clark faces an additional charge for return fraud. All four were booked into the Clackamas County Jail.
Last week, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office led a multi-agency operation targeting retail theft at the Happy Valley Home Depot, capturing an additional five arrestees and two juvenile detainees on multiple charges.
The shoplifting detail included CCSO patrol deputies, detectives and reserve deputies working alongside Tigard Police detectives and store loss prevention personnel. During the operation, law enforcement contacted retail thieves ranging in age from 16 to 54 as they exited the Home Depot at 9300 Southeast 82nd Avenue.
The recovered stolen items included a drone, faucet, multiple spray-paint cans and other items. Adult suspects were booked at Clackamas County Jail on charges including second- and third-degree theft, carrying a concealed weapon, resisting arrest, and outstanding warrants from Clackamas and Marion counties.
The arrests included Jeffrey Keith Severson, 54, charged with third-degree theft, resisting arrest and third-degree escape; Kristen Kay Ragan, 47, third-degree theft and warrants for failure to appear; Alan Clive Hill, 27, second-degree theft, carrying a concealed weapon; Bennett James Kelly, 20, second-degree theft; and Quincy Anthony Buggs, 33, second-degree theft and warrants for failure to appear.
One of the juveniles was transported to the Clackamas County Juvenile Reception Center; the other was released to their parents.
The December 6 operation followed an October 27 shoplifting detail at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Macy’s, Kohl’s and Spirit Halloween that detained 18 adult suspects and four juveniles.