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After a Southern California store became the target of a shoplifter, the owners decided to feature the thief as the star of their latest clothing collection.
On December 28, 2023, a male shoplifter was caught on surveillance camera breaking into Valdagen on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice in broad daylight.
He quickly snatched a sweatshirt and another item from a display shelf near the store’s entrance and quietly left.
Store owner Jared Ingold decides to use the crime to his advantage by creating a new clothing collection called “Wanted,” featuring caricatures of the suspects front and center.
“As small business owners, we have the theme of entrepreneurship woven throughout our brand and dealing with ups and downs,” Ingold said.
Ingold said his store has been a constant target for shoplifters and purse-snatching robberies since it opened seven years ago.
On December 28, 2023, a male suspect is seen stealing a hoodie from a display shelf at a clothing boutique in Venice, California. (Waldagen) T-shirt from Waldagen’s new “Wanted” collection featuring a caricature of a male shoplifting suspect. Targeted their stores. (KTLA) T-shirts from Waldagen’s new “Wanted” collection. A portrait of a man suspected of shoplifting targeting stores is drawn. (KTLA) James Ingold, owner and founder of Valdagen, shows KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo his new “Wanted” collection featuring shoplifting suspects on Dec. 3, 2024. (KTLA) A shoplifting suspect targeted a sock store in Waldagen’s new “Wanted” collection featuring caricatures of men. (KTLA) Pants from Waldagen’s new “Wanted” collection featuring caricatures of male shoplifting suspects targeting stores. (KTLA) Inside Valdagen, a boutique clothing store on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, California. (KTLA) T-shirts from Waldagen’s new “Wanted” collection. A caricature of a man suspected of shoplifting targeting stores is drawn. (KTLA) Exterior of Valdagen, a boutique clothing store on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, California. (KTLA) T-shirts from Waldagen’s new “Wanted” collection. A portrait of a man suspected of shoplifting targeting stores is drawn. (KTLA)
The male suspect who is the inspiration for the new collection has not yet been arrested.
“I looked at the security tape and thought it was a little weird because I didn’t really know who the thief was,” Ingold said of the thief.
The distinctive cartoon image of the bald, mustachioed thief now appears on T-shirts, hoodies, shorts, pants and beanies.
Since the collection was unveiled over the weekend, Ingold said customers have been enjoying the unique designs and eagerly purchasing new items.
“We’re not trying to attack anyone. There are many people who have stolen from us, so it’s not about one person,” he explained. “This is just a commentary, an artistic representation of what’s going on.”
Ingold said he would not press charges for petty theft, but said the suspect had been spotted wandering around Venice.
“Actually, this was the first time we saw him, but we’ve started seeing him more recently because some people recognize him because he’s on the street.” he said.
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