Full Notification

On August 26, 2022, at 11:17 AM, Officers were dispatched to the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center on the report of a retail theft that had just occurred at Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW). Employees reported that a woman wearing pink clothing entered the store and stole over $900 in merchandise from inside the store. The woman left the store and drove away in a White Honda Minivan.

While investigating the theft at DSW, officers received information that a woman matching the suspect’s description was now inside Ulta Beauty, involved in a second retail theft of approximately $3,000 in beauty products. Officers responded to the area of Ulta, but the woman had already left.
 
Officers located the White Honda Minivan parked and unoccupied in the parking lot near Target. Officers conducted surveillance of the Honda for approximately thirty minutes before a woman dressed in pink clothing returned to the Honda.
 
Officers contacted and detained 56-year-old Tammi Jean Jones of San Francisco. They learned that Jones had just been detained by the loss prevention team at Target, while attempting to leave with a shopping cart full of clothing worth approximately $2,700.
 
Inside of the White Honda Minivan, Officers found stolen merchandise from the DSW theft in plain view. They also located over $1,800 worth of stolen alcohol that was linked to a retail theft that occurred in Sonoma County.
 
Jones initially provided a false name to the officers at the scene and was later identified by jail records. A second suspect, 32-year-old Melisa Ann Lynn Rodriguez of San Francisco, was also contacted in connection with this investigation. Officers discovered that Rodriguez had several outstanding warrants for her arrest. Rodriguez was found to be in possession of controlled substances, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.
 
Melisa Rodriguez was arrested and booked at the Marin County Jail for outstanding warrants, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia. Tami Jones was arrested and booked for providing false information to a peace officer, possession of stolen property, grand theft, and commercial burglary.
 
We would like to thank the witnesses for promptly notifying our officers of the burglary. This is a great reminder that we are here to assist 24/7 day or night. Never put yourself (or others) in a dangerous situation and please do not try to apprehend a suspect while a crime is being committed. Call NPD if you see something suspicious and provide as much information as possible. Helpful information to include: what happened, where did it happen, suspect description, mode of transportation, license plate number, or direction of travel.
 
If you have any additional information related to this specific case, or if you would like to report a non-emergency incident, please call the Novato Police Department at 415-897-4361. In an emergency, immediately call 9-1-1.