Duo Accused In San Rafael, Petaluma Retail Thefts: Police

PETALUMA, CA — Two Richmond residents were arrested Saturday afternoon in Petaluma when officers responded to a report of shoplifting at Kmart and found a generator believed had been stolen a short time earlier from a San Rafael home improvement store, according to the Petaluma Police Department.

Police were called about 1:35 p.m. Saturday to the Kmart on North McDowell Boulevard, where security employees had followed two shoplifting suspects outside, Petaluma police Sgt. Lance Novello said.

Officers pulled over the suspects' car near the Kmart parking lot and ultimately recovered the stolen items, the sergeant said.

"A search of their vehicle revealed a brand-new generator, which was determined to have been stolen from the San Rafael Home Depot prior to the Kmart theft," Novello said.

The accused thieves were identified by police as Jesocimo Rilles, 54, and Pao Saechao, 44.

Police said the men showed "random receipts" to pass through checkout lanes without paying.

Rilles, who was positively identified by Kmart personnel as the person responsible for the theft, was arrested on suspicion of burglary, police said.

Saechao was arrested on suspicion of possession of controlled substance, drug paraphernalia and a switchblade knife, according to Novello.

Both men were booked into the Sonoma County Jail.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.