Grants Pass Police jailed three suspects in a nationwide organized retail crime ring after a shoplifting incident at Ross Dress 4 Less late last week.
The Police Department reports 47-year-old Jose Vargas-Reyes, 45-year-old Juan Vargas-Reyes and 47-year-old Monica Valencia-Torres were arrested at the store in the Grants Pass Shopping Center on Friday at about 10:40 a.m..
Police said corporate investigators with Ross were surveilling the Grants Pass store for thieves involved in organized retail crime. They said the suspects began their crime spree in California and it was known they were traveling north on I-5.
After spotting the suspects, store detectives contacted GPPD and officers swooped in, searched the store and placed the suspects into custody.
According to the report, the three suspects are Mexican nationals operating out of California. The trio used Spandex undergarments to conceal numerous amounts of clothing, fragrances and other items from the store. Their Ford Explorer was found parked near Harbor Freight and it contained more stolen merchandise from their theft operation. The retail amount of the items was estimated to be over $10,000.
Vargas-Reyes, Vargas-Reyes and Valencia-Torres were lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of 1st-Degree Theft, Organized Retail Theft and Criminal Conspiracy. The stolen items were confiscated as evidence.
