Women Questioned in Shoplifting Case Flee in Stolen Cars

Two Des Moines women face a variety of charges ranging from robbery to auto theft in a Sunday afternoon incident that started at Jordan Creek Town Center, 101 Jordan Creek Pkwy., and ended at 37th Street and Kingman Boulevard in Des Moines.

West Des Moines Police were called to Dillard’s department store about 4:45 p.m. to investigate shoplifting allegations against two women later identified as Alon Rene Meisters, 31, of 2117 E. 40th Court, and Jamie Dawnelle Vandermark, 35, 1332 23rd St.

According to police reports, the two women pushed the store’s loss prevention specialist, who was blocking the door, out of the way and fled the store.

Vandermark got into a Chevrolet Silvarado and Meisters got into a Hyundai Santa Fe. The Hyundai had been reported stolen by Windsor Heights authorities, and had license plates that had been reported stolen from a vehicle in West Des Moines.

Before the women fled, Dillard’s loss prevention specialist Mike Minter told police he had confiscated Vandermark’s handbag, which contained items of clothing valued at $250, as well as a razor blade knife and wire cutters, tools commonly used by shoplifters.

Minter also found crumbled up newspaper in the dressing room Vandermark had used, and told police she likely had stuffed the newspaper in her handbag to make her handbag appear full, and then replaced the newspaper with stolen merchandise.

Minter told police that when he pursued Meisters on foot, she aimed a can of pepper spray at him and said she would spray him if he came closer. At that point, an unidentified male approached Meisters on foot and told her the keys were in the Hyundai and to get in it. She did, and Minter blocked the stall to try to prevent her from leaving.

Meisters “inched” out of the stall, hitting Minter’s leg several times, according to the police report. He told police that each time her vehicle tapped his leg, he told her that by assaulting him, she could be charged with robbery instead of theft.

She eventually left the parking stall and the Dillard’s parking lot, then parked the vehicle at the nearby Residence Inn Marriott. When West Des Moines Police Officer Jason Lichty arrived at the scene a short time later, he saw Meisters running alongside the hotel. Lichty pursued Meisters on foot and found her hiding in shrubbery behind the hotel.

Meisters was vague when police questioned her about the man who approached her in the parking lot and told her to get in the Hyundai.

She first said his name was Jeff, then Frank and then Ryan. Meisters told police she didn’t know him well and had only met him a couple of different times, but that he met her and Vandermark, who she identified to police only as “Jackie,” on the east side of Des Moines and given them a ride in the Hyundai.

She told police that when she parked the vehicle, the man she had identified as Jeff took the keys and ran.

Police charged Meisters with first-degree theft and second-degree robbery.

Meanwhile, Vandermark was still on the lam.

Clive police caught up with her when she was involved in a single-vehicle accident at 37th Street and Kingman Boulevard in Des Moines later that afternoon.

Vandermark had apparently abandoned the Silvarado and drove away in a Chevrolet Cavalier that was idling in front of Portrait Innovations at 6925 Mills Civic Pkwy., about a mile away from the Dillard's parking lot.

According to Officer Maggie Countryman’s report, a friend of the vehicle’s owner, Kendra Ann Miller, 21, of 519 Pioneer Road, had started the vehicle and then stepped back into the portrait studio. The car was unlocked.

Westcom Dispatch alerted area police of the theft, and a Clive police officer spotted it a short time later eastbound on Interstate 235. A short chase ensued and ended when the car was involved in the accident. Details of the crash were not available.

Vandermark was charged with second-degree theft by West Des Moines police. She also faces traffic violations filed by Clive authorities.