On Tuesday, August 27th at approximately 3:15pm, Campbell Police Officers responded to Kohl’s on E. Hamilton Ave. for a theft in progress. A Kohl’s staff member reported that a male and female suspect were actively removing security sensors from clothing.
The male suspect, later identified as KC Vernon Pries, 38 years old of Sunnyvale, and the female suspect, identified as Mary Jo Devera, 48 years old of San Jose, were observed exiting the store and attempting to leave in a vehicle, which was later determined to have been reported stolen out of San Jose.
Once CPD officers arrived, both suspects fled on foot from the vehicle to a nearby neighborhood. Devera was subsequently contacted down the street from Kohl’s and arrested. Campbell officers established a perimeter and our DFR (Drone as First Responder) team located Pries hiding on a residential rooftop. Live drone footage of the area was able to provide officers with critical information and situational awareness of where the suspect was hiding, allowing our officers to quickly and safely take Pries into custody without further incident.
The investigation of Pries and Devera revealed the car that was used in the theft was a car that had previously been stolen out of San Jose of which the license plates had been “cold plated” (replaced with someone else’s license plates). Officers searched the car and found stolen property, burglary tools, and drug paraphernalia.
Pries and Devera have extensive criminal histories with various felony charges. Pries has been arrested upwards of 25+ times dating back to 2004. Devera has been arrested 8 times since 2001.
Both subjects were arrested and subsequently booked into jail for resisting arrest, conspiracy to commit a crime, retail theft, vehicle theft, and possession of burglary tools, stolen personal identifying information, and drug paraphernalia. Pries was also in violation of his parole.
"This case exemplifies how our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology is crucial in swiftly resolving incidents and ensuring the safety of our officers and the community," stated Chief Gary Berg. "Campbell Police is at the forefront of technology and will continue to invest in innovative solutions that empower our officers to address complex challenges efficiently and effectively."
These advancements, supported by the BSCC Organized Retail Theft Grant, are instrumental in our ability to protect our community and maintain public safety.
