A suspected thief turned a routine shift into a violent scene at Fashion Valley Mall yesterday, when an alleged attempted robbery at the JCPenney ended with one security guard stabbed with a pair of pliers and another bitten, authorities said. The guard who was stabbed was taken to a hospital for treatment, and officers said the suspect bolted from the store before he was tracked down near a nearby river.
According to FOX 5 San Diego, San Diego police said the man allegedly tried to rob the JCPenney before getting into a struggle with store security. During that confrontation, one security officer was bitten and another was stabbed with a pair of pliers, FOX 5 reported, and the wounded guard was taken for medical care. Police told the station the suspect, described as a man in his 30s wearing a baseball cap, ran from the scene but was detained "near a river" shortly afterward.
Retail theft has been a recurring problem
The chaos at JCPenney did not come out of nowhere. Fashion Valley has seen other theft-related incidents in recent months, including earlier break-ins at the same department store and nearby shops. As reported by ABC 10News, a previous burglary at the JCPenney involved smashed jewelry cases and triggered alarms, highlighting a pattern of retail-targeted crime at the upscale mall.
Where it happened
Fashion Valley is an open-air shopping center in Mission Valley managed by Simon Property Group and anchored by national retailers. The mall’s official website lists its lineup of stores and services, along with a transit center serving the JCPenney entrance, according to Fashion Valley's website.
Investigation underway
San Diego police said detectives are investigating the incident and had not immediately released the suspect’s name or the exact charges he might face, as reported by FOX 5 San Diego. Authorities are asking anyone with additional information about the case to contact investigators. This story will be updated as officials release more details.
