A shoplifting attempt at a Victorville Kohl's turned into an armed robbery Tuesday night when a man brandished what appeared to be a box cutter at employees who tried to stop him from leaving with stolen clothing. The confrontation happened around 8 p.m. at the Kohl's near Bear Valley and Amargosa roads, according to sheriff's officials, and no injuries were reported despite the weapon being pulled.
The man allegedly changed into clothing items inside the store and attempted to walk out without paying before exiting through an emergency exit, according to the Victorville Daily Press. Employees then confronted and detained him, the outlet reported.
The suspect, described only as a white male adult, has not been found by authorities. Witnesses last saw him wearing a black Spider-Man shirt under a black sweater, along with white shorts and gray shoes, per the same account.
From Shoplifting to Felony Robbery
Under California law, what began as ordinary shoplifting can become a far more serious charge the moment force or the threat of force enters the picture. California Penal Code Section 211 holds that when a retail theft suspect uses force, fear, or a weapon against store personnel to escape or keep hold of stolen property, the crime becomes what is known as an “Estes robbery” — a second-degree felony that can carry up to five years in state prison, according to legal explainers tracing the standard back to a 1983 appellate ruling.
Penal Code Section 12022 provides a one-year enhancement for illegal knife possession but cannot be added to brandishing or assault-with-a-deadly-weapon charges, per Urban EDC. Separately, California law includes enhanced theft sanctions, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
A Familiar Retail Corridor for Theft Cases
The Kohl's sits near Bear Valley and Amargosa roads in a High Desert retail hub with national anchors including Walmart, Lowe's, and Michael's. The Victorville Police Department, which investigated the case, operates as a contract agency of the county sheriff's department, a relationship dating back to July 1963 and covering a jurisdiction of more than 140,000 residents.
The Bear Valley Road corridor has seen retail theft enforcement before. In February 2025, deputies arrested a 37-year-old man along the same stretch of road following thefts at a nearby Skechers and Home Depot, charging him under the newly enacted Proposition 36 provisions — a case Hoodline covered at the time. The county has also seen other retail theft cases.
Commercial Crime Context
The Kohl's incident is a reported commercial crime in the area. Both cases point to a pattern local law enforcement has been grappling with along the city's busiest commercial strips.
Investigators have not identified the Kohl's suspect, and it remains unknown whether surveillance footage from the store or neighboring businesses in Dunia Plaza will help track him down. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Victorville Police Department at 760-241-2911 or submit an anonymous tip through the WeTip hotline at 844-909-3096.
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