A man suspected of committing a brazen, caught-on-camera theft inside a San Francisco Walgreens was arrested over the weekend — while allegedly trying to rip off another drug store in the city, police said.
Jean Lugo-Romero, 40, was busted Saturday morning inside a business on Haight Street with about $978 in cosmetics that police say he intended to steal, according to a statement from San Francisco police.
A shoplifter was caught on video stuffing items into a garbage bag inside a San Francisco Walgreens and then taking off on his bike.
After officers trailed Lugo-Romero into the store, he was allegedly shoving the merchandise into a duffel bag.
Police said Lugo-Romero was being sought in a series of drug store thefts, including one at a Walgreens where he allegedly shoveled items into a black plastic bag and pedaled away on a bicycle with little resistance from a store security guard.
A security guard simply recorded the theft on his phone.
The crime was recorded and posted to Twitter, where it went viral and renewed debate about a San Francisco law that critics say embolden shoplifters because of laxed punishment.
The controversial city law, called Proposition 47, lowered the penalty for stealing goods worth less than $950 from a felony to a misdemeanor.
Jean Lugo-Romero, 40, was busted Saturday morning with about $978 in cosmetics. Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty ImagesIn connection to Saturday’s incident, Lugo-Romero is charged with attempted grand theft, entering a business with the intent to commit theft and possession of narcotics paraphernalia, police said.
He also had an outstanding warrant for skipping a court date for a past theft case, police said.
