Full Notification

It’s been a busy week for our officers at NPD. We have seen an uptick in retail thefts in Novato and advise our community to stay aware when out shopping and give us a call if you notice suspicious behaviors or incidents.

NP24-1573 Target
Tuesday (5/21): Around 3:00PM, while conducting an extra patrol of the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, a Novato Police Corporal was flagged down regarding a theft that had just occurred at a Target. The witness pointed out the suspect was still parked near the store in a Mercedes. Contact was made with the driver, who fled in his vehicle toward Taco Bell on Rowland Blvd. An officer responding to the shopping center saw the vehicle and was able to initiate a traffic stop in the Taco Bell parking lot. The driver was identified as Tony Adger, a 58-year-old San Pablo resident. Adger was booked into Marin County Jail for Resisting Arrest and Shoplifting.

After further investigation, NPD officers confirmed Adger had been inside the store with a female. This female was located and identified as De Shauna Jones, a 46-year-old San Francisco resident. She had an outstanding warrant for her arrest for prior theft charges in Campbell County. Jones was also found with stolen merchandise from Target and brass knuckles. Target video surveillance confirmed the items found in her possession were stolen. She was booked into Marin County Jail for the warrant, shoplifting, and possession of brass knuckles.

NP24-1582 Sephora
Wednesday (5/22): Around 11:45AM, Novato Police officers responded to another retail theft that had just occurred at Sephora. Four female suspects were reportedly running from the store and fled in a silver Nissan sedan. NPD Detectives, who were out conducting follow-up and located the suspect’s vehicle traveling on southbound Highway 101. As officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver made multiple abrupt reckless movements and was able to evade the officers. The vehicle was last seen traveling at a high rate of speed on southbound Highway 101. Officers responded to Sephora, determined several thousand dollars in merchandise had been stolen, and learned the license plate affixed to the vehicle was stolen. This case is still under investigation.

We would like to thank the witnesses, as well as store staff members, who reported these incidents while they were occurring. Witnesses providing timely and accurate information can be the key in helping us solve these cases. There are several steps that our community can take to help deter potential thefts and ensure the safety of both staff and customers.

• Stay aware of your surroundings while shopping. If you see something unusual, report it.
• Notify NPD as soon as possible, if an incident occurs by calling 9-1-1.
• Be a good witness. Do not intervene and keep a safe distance from theft suspects while they are in the store.
• Attempt to remember what you can about the incident, including information on the vehicle that was driven, any physical or clothing descriptions, and the direction the suspect was heading when they left the store.

Business owners can take proactive steps to combat retail theft.  

• Create a theft prevention plan and train staff on what to do when a retail theft occurs.
• Optimize the store layout to prevent theft.
• Proper lighting inside and outside the store, particularly in parking lots and entryways.
• Install security cameras in strategic locations.
• Make sure cameras are visible to customers and cover key areas such as entrances, exits, and high-value merchandise sections.
• Regularly check surveillance system is functioning correctly.

If anyone has additional information related to either case above, please call the Novato Police Department at 415-897-4361. Together we can create a safer Novato!