The suspect has been arrested as authorities investigate a series of retail thefts in Southern California.
The man was identified as Anthony Stephen Machuca, 29, of Baldwin Park, according to Irvine police.
On June 26th, police investigated the robbery at the Target Store at Irvine Spectrum Center Mall. Employees reportedly saw Machuka go to the register and “operated the screen” before opening the cache drawer normally.
When workers tried to stand up to him, he was allegedly forced the employee out of the way when he fled the store, police said.
A police bodycam video showed officers arresting 29-year-old Anthony Stephen Machuca in connection with a string of retail thefts in Southern California. (Irvine Police Station) Police bodycam video showed officers arresting 29-year-old Anthony Stephen Machuca in connection with a string of retail thefts in Southern California. (Irvine Police Station) Police bodycam video showed officers arresting 29-year-old Anthony Stephen Machuca in connection with a string of retail thefts in Southern California. (Irvine Police Station)
After the investigation, detectives identified Machuka as a suspect and found him in a COVID-19 hotel.
A bodycam video provided by police showed him handcuffing him with the officers surrounding Machuca outside the hotel.
Detectives believe Machuca could be liable for more than 35 other target thefts in Southern California.
He was arrested for robbery and for police battery. No further details have been made public as the case is under investigation.
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