Arlington police arrest 15 in Pentagon City retail theft crackdown

ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now) — Police in Arlington announced that more than a dozen arrests were made during an enforcement in the Pentagon City area last week.

The arrests come after the Arlington County Police Department conducted an enforcement operation centered around the Pentagon City area in an effort to fight retail theft. During the enforcement, officers partnered with local and regional retail managers to identify and apprehend individuals suspected of theft.

As a result, on Aug. 22, police arrested 15 people who were charged with 15 felony and 30 misdemeanor offenses. This includes petit larceny, concealment, stolen property and more.

Arlington police noted that one person is facing additional charges after he allegedly threatened to kill officers.

Additionally, suspects were served with 20 notices, banning them from various retail businesses in the area. Polie said thousands of dollars’ worth of stolen merchandise was also recovered.

“We are particularly aware that there are individuals and groups who cause significant financial losses to retailers, both big and small. We also see suspects become violent when confronted, resulting in injury to store employees who are simply trying to do their jobs,” said Chief Andy Penn.