CARLSBAD — Carlsbad police have arrested a man in connection with a series of organized retail thefts at a local outlet mall, where more than $30,000 worth of merchandise was stolen.
Jose Miguel Gonzalez, 38, of Lake Elsinore, was taken into custody on suspicion of orchestrating the thefts at Carlsbad Premium Outlets on Paseo Del Norte. Gonzalez was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on multiple counts of criminal conspiracy and organized retail theft, authorities said.
The Carlsbad Police Department’s Crime Suppression Team spent several weeks investigating several incidents targeting high-end stores at the outlets. Carlsbad police Officer Madison Puliafico, who was instrumental in the investigation, linked the thefts in Carlsbad to similar crimes in Orange County.
A “booster bag” used in two of the incidents helped Puliafico identify multiple suspects involved in other thefts. License plate reader data also identified a vehicle connected to several unsolved cases in Carlsbad and Orange County. The vehicle’s travel patterns suggested involvement in organized criminal activity, leading to the issuance of a search warrant and Gonzalez’s arrest.
The Carlsbad Police Department said the arrest highlights their expertise in investigating crime patterns and their commitment to community safety.
