Shoplifting Turns To Robbery As Suspect Arrested For Fight With Employee In SMC: Police

SAN MATEO, CA — A shoplifting incident escalated to a second-degree robbery charge on Friday in San Mateo after the suspect tussled with a store employee while fleeing with stolen merchandise, police said.

Ryan Komara, a 34-year-old San Mateo resident, was later apprehended, police said.

At around 6:13 p.m. on Friday,officers from the San Mateo Police Department responded to a report of theft at the Nordstrom Rack located at 2280 Bridgepointe Pkwy.

According to police, Komara stole around $150 worth of shoes, using a specialized sensor-removal device to take off security tags. As he attempted to exit the store, an asset protection employee confronted him, and when the employee tried to detain him, Komara resisted physically, causing a minor injury to the employee before fleeing the scene, police said.

The stolen shoes and the device used to remove the tags were reportedly discarded by the suspect during his flight and were recovered by officers.

Komara was later located by officers in the surrounding area.

He was arrested and booked on charges of second-degree robbery and possession of burglary tools, police said.

Officers also said that Komara had multiple outstanding warrants from other counties, for which he was additionally booked.