A group of three suspects was arrested by the Pleasanton Police Department (PD) on grand theft charges after they were caught stealing over $1,300 worth of merchandise from a Macy's store in the Stoneridge Shopping Center, according to a Pleasenton PD Twitter post. Officers responding to the scene not only recovered the stolen goods, but also discovered two loaded pistols in the possession of one of the suspects.
Shout out to our weekend officers! 🙌 After responding to Macy's loss prevention who caught 3 people shoplifting more than $1300 worth of clothing, our officers recovered two guns, of which one was a ghost gun. Two suspects were booked into Santa Rita; the third was cited out. pic.twitter.com/0i43edLTZP
— Pleasanton PD (@pleasantonpd) July 25, 2023
Jewel Faataui, 22, Elizsabeta Faataui, 20, and Tulauta Vaimaona, 21, were charged by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office with grand theft for stealing $1,351 in clothing from the Macy's store, as reported by Henry Lee KTVU. Vaimaona has also been charged with gun violations. Two of the handguns he carried were loaded, and one of them is said to be a ghost gun—a firearm with no identifying markings or serial number, thus making tracing its origin extremely challenging.
Following the arrest, two suspects were booked into the Santa Rita Jail, while the third was cited and released. Details have not yet been released regarding their court appearances, possible defense attorneys, or any decisions about potential sentencing if the suspects are found guilty of the charges against them.
