Rocklin, Calif.- Placer County Sheriff’s detectives arrested two Richmond residents at the Rocklin Target store Tuesday on charges of identity theft, burglary, grand theft and use of a fraudulent access device. A group of Richmond residents was arrested at the Auburn Target store on similar charges two weeks ago.
Darryl Lee Brown, Jr., 33, and Keshia Lashra Owens, 24, were observed by a deputy and a detective who were at the store. They watched Brown use stolen credit cards to purchase items with gift cards. Brown returned to his car and began rolling a marijuana cigarette, so the detective approached the car. Brown was detained and more than 30 Target bags, filled with recently purchased clothes and baby items, were found in the car, along with many $100 Target gift cards.
Owens was still in the store when deputies asked her to step outside. She had numerous credit cards with her name on them, which were later checked and determined that stolen credit card numbers had been embedded on the cards’ magnetic strip.
During the investigation, detectives found photographs that showed a download of credit card numbers. It appears Brown is buying personal information online and using it to create counterfeit cards.
Both were transported to the Placer County Jail. Owens was released with a promise to appear due to jail overcrowding. Brown’s bail was set at $110,000, which he posted and bailed out Wednesday.
