Botched Theft at Upland Shopping Center, Accomplice Flees, Leaving Suspect to Face Police Alone

In a turn of events that seems lifted straight from a scripted crime drama, a would-be thief found himself abruptly abandoned by his accomplice during a planned heist in Upland, Southern California, as detailed in reports from KTLA and an official post by the Upland Police Department. The botched theft, which took place at a retail establishment in The Colonies shopping center, resulted in the arrest of a solitary suspect while his would-be getaway driver remained at large.

The incident occurred late on the evening of Monday, September 23, when, as per Upland Police Department's account, officers responded to a theft in progress at around 9:30 pm; the suspect had filled a trash bag with approximately $1,779.79 worth in goods which included boxes of shoes, jeans, and shirts the suspect's hasty exit through an emergency doorway and subsequent dash toward a white sedan was caught on the store's surveillance system while the driver of the sedan, after pausing briefly, seemingly spooked by an approaching police car, unexpectedly accelerated away from the curb, leaving their accomplice in a lurch.

Once the realization of his forsaken plight hit, the suspect dropped the stolen goods and attempted to flee the scene on foot, his run was brief, as law enforcement engaged in a foot chase that resulted in his quick surrender. “The suspect vehicle was able to avoid capture (for the time being), however, all $1,779.79 of the merchandise was recovered,” police conveyed in a released statement. The individual, who was already on parole for a previous felony firearm possession, now faces charges that include grand theft, organized retail theft, and conspiracy.

Officials have urged anyone with information on the getaway vehicle or driver to come forward and aid in the ongoing investigation.