Couple Charged with Theft Totaling $17,000 from Target Stores in California
In a case resembling a video game heist, a couple now faces charges of theft, accused of pilfering merchandise valued at $17,000 from two Target stores in Orange County, California. The accused, Analu Gonzalez, 25, and Alexis De Jesus Garcia, 22, have been charged in connection with thefts at a Costa Mesa Target on March 3 and an Irvine Target on April 2.
The Irvine Police Department has released security footage capturing the alleged thefts. In the video, the couple can be observed strolling through the Costa Mesa store with a shopping cart, heading straight for the pricey baby formula section. Remarkably, a child sits comfortably in the cart.
In what appears to be a calculated move, they proceed to pluck items off the shelves without discrimination and stuff them into a sizable tote bag. Although a Target employee tries to intervene as they exit the store, the couple remains unfazed, walking away with their ill-gotten gains.
The police statement humorously notes, “Bowser and his partner in crime, Buzzy Beatle, collected baby formula from stores across Orange County like Mario and Luigi collect coins,” referencing the popular video game characters. The statement also clarifies that the stolen formula wasn’t destined to feed fictional Koopalings.
The couple’s tactics were strikingly similar during the Irvine theft. Nonchalantly rolling a cart to the baby formula aisle, they once again began emptying the shelves into their cart. This time, they made off with an estimated $3,000 worth of merchandise.
The couple’s theft spree came to an end when detectives located them at a motel in Buena Park. They were promptly arrested on Thursday and now face charges of grand theft and organized retail theft.
In a twist of reality, the couple’s escapades mirror the gaming world, but the consequences are far from virtual as they navigate a legal landscape with real-world consequences.