Crime & Safety
Woman Charged In $15,000 Organized Retail Theft At Westfield Mall
Carmelita Barela of San Francisco is accused of taking part in 20 retail thefts between March 30 and Oct. 29.
SAN FRANCISCO — A 30-year-old woman was charged in connection with a series of organized retail thefts including the theft of $15,000 in goods at Westfield Mall, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office said Friday.
Carmelita Barela of San Francisco was arraigned Thursday and pleaded not guilty to felony organized retail theft, six counts of felony grand theft and nine counts of misdemeanor shoplifting, prosecutors said.
Barela is accused of taking part in 20 retail thefts between March 30 and Oct. 29, including the theft of $15,000 worth of goods from a Bath & Body Works in Westfield Mall, the district attorney's office said.
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If convicted of all charges she faces up to three years in state prison, prosecutors said.
Police and the district attorney's office are seeking to identify additional suspects in the thefts.
Anyone with information is asked to call the San Francisco Police Department at (415) 575-4444 or text TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
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