​Woman Arrested For Northgate Mall​ Thefts: San Rafael Police

SAN RAFAEL, CA — San Rafael police Wednesday arrested a Suisun City woman who is suspected of stealing clothing worth more than $18,000 from stores in the Northgate Mall and elsewhere in the Bay Area.

Detectives connected the suspect, 19-year-old Amirah Dennard, to 11 cases of grab and run thefts since April, Sgt. Justin Graham said.

Dennard allegedly returned to the mall in August and stole merchandise worth more than $6,500 from three stores. Detectives learned her identity from vehicle descriptions, license plates and surveillance video, but they had no known address for her, Graham said.

Dennard returned to the Northgate Mall on Oct. 16 and 18 and committed three additional thefts, according to Graham. She allegedly threatened to pepper-spray a store clerk as she left the store with clothing.

When Dennard returned to the mall on Wednesday morning, she allegedly parked in a red zone and detectives followed her into a Kohl's store, Graham said. Detectives approached her while she gathered clothing, and Dennard dropped the clothing and ran, according to Graham.

A store employee tried to tackle Dennard but she allegedly pepper-sprayed the employee and a pursuing detective. Graham said additional officers converged on Dennard and she was taken into custody.

Detectives apparently found large quantities of clothing in her vehicle and they are trying to determine who it belonged to, according to Graham.

Dennard was booked on suspicion of multiple offenses including burglary, robbery, possession of stolen property, illegal use of pepper spray, obstructing a peace officer and driving on a suspended license.

– Bay City News Service