Arrest Made In $35K String Of Ulta Store Thefts: Fairfield Police

FAIRFIELD, CA — Following a months-long investigation involving police departments from Solano and Contra Costa counties, a Suisun man is behind bars on suspicion of his participation in a string of retail thefts from Ulta stores in Fairfield, Vallejo and Pinole totaling $35,000 in lost merchandise.

Fairfield police began investigating the thefts, at least three of which occurred at Ulta in Fairfield, when officers responded Oct. 25 to the beauty store in the Solano Mall. Over $4,600 worth of merchandise was stolen by two black men, police said.

Another $6,000 worth of merchandise was stolen from the same Ulta store about a month later, on Nov. 19, police said.

"The officer who responded to this theft learned of an ongoing investigation into a string of retail thefts spanning several jurisdictions," police said in a news release.

"In each of the thefts, two or more suspects enter the retail store, select an empty merchandise bag, fill the bag with items, and leave the store without paying for those items," police said.

Fairfield detectives worked the investigation into the October and November incidents, and in collaboration with detectives from the neighboring jurisdictions of Vallejo and Pinole police departments, positively identified one of the suspects as Archble Crump, a 40-year old Suisun resident.

While the investigation was ongoing, a third theft, this time totaling over $10,000 in merchandise, was reported Dec. 13 at the Fairfield Ulta store.

When Fairfield detectives received information that Crump was possibly living in San Pablo, they started conducting surveillance on him. They soon spotted him leaving a San Pablo neighborhood, and with the help of the San Pablo Police Department, took him into custody on suspicion of the November and December thefts from Ulta in Fairfield.

Detectives, when serving a search warrant at the San Pablo residence where Crump was staying, allegedly located an assault weapon along with a large quantity of marijuana.

Tanya Williams, 28, with whom Crump was staying, was arrested and booked into Contra Costa County jail Dec. 26 on suspicion of possession of an assault weapon and possession of marijuana for sale.

Crump was booked into the Solano County Jail.

"From the five theft cases currently under investigation by the Fairfield, Vallejo and Pinole police departments it has been determined that over $35,000 worth of merchandise has been stolen," police said.

"This case is a great example of how information sharing between neighboring agencies can help end a rash of retail thefts," Fairfield police said. "It should also demonstrate to suspects thinking about committing crimes in Fairfield that we do not believe that our investigations end at our city limits. Our detectives will travel wherever possible to solve cases and bring justice to our victims."

The investigations into the thefts are ongoing, police said Friday; therefore they were not releasing further information.

Anyone with information regarding the thefts from Ulta stores is asked to contact the Fairfield Police Department’s Investigations Bureau at 707-428-7600, the 24-hour tip line at 707-428-7345, or Solano County Crime Stoppers at 707-644-7867. Information may also be submitted via text message by texting TIPFAIRFIELDPD followed by the message to 888777.

Callers and texters may remain anonymous, police said.

Photos courtesy Fairfield Police Department