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SLCPD Arrest Three People Accused of Retail Theft, $10K in Stolen Merchandise Recovered

SALT LAKE CITY — Officers with the Liberty and Pioneer Patrol Divisions safely arrested three people accused of stealing at least $10,000 in merchandise.

This investigation started at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, when SLC911 received information about a theft in progress at a clothing store located at 1198 East Brickyard Road.

Working with the store’s loss prevention team, officers received updates about the suspects and a description of the car they arrived in.

Officers safely detained three people as part of their investigation and found their van in the store’s parking lot.

During the investigation, officers learned the suspects were connected to at least 10 other thefts from the same clothing retailer but at different locations throughout the region.

Video from the store in Salt Lake City showed all three suspects allegedly concealing clothing while inside the store.

The suspects are also accused of using a tool to remove the theft protection devices attached to some of the items stolen.

Officers executed a court-authorized search warrant on the van the suspects arrived in and found stolen merchandise with the retailer’s price tags still attached.

During the search of the van, officers recovered 114 pairs of shoes, 153 handbags, 82 wallets, 400 pieces of clothing, and 18 miscellaneous items, including wallets and other clothing accessories.

The estimate of the stolen merchandise is valued to be at least $10,000.

The three suspects are identified as 36-year-old Mijail Jardines Castanon, 46-year-old Maria Jardinas, and 38-year-old Andrea Casas.

Jardines Castanon is charged with felony theft, possession of a theft detection shielding device, and providing a false name to police.

Jardinas is charged with felony theft and possession of a theft detection shielding device.

Casas is charged with felony theft and possession of a theft detection shielding device.

Several photos from the evidence seized are being released. Media may use these photos with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

Photo: Evidence seized by Salt Lake City Police officers during a retail theft investigation (SLCPD photo, February 14, 2024).

Photo: Evidence seized by Salt Lake City Police officers during a retail theft investigation (SLCPD photo, February 14, 2024).

Photo: Evidence seized by Salt Lake City Police officers during a retail theft investigation (SLCPD photo, February 14, 2024).

Photo: Evidence seized by Salt Lake City Police officers during a retail theft investigation (SLCPD photo, February 14, 2024).

Photo: Evidence seized by Salt Lake City Police officers during a retail theft investigation (SLCPD photo, February 14, 2024).

Photo: Evidence seized by Salt Lake City Police officers during a retail theft investigation (SLCPD photo, February 14, 2024).

Photo: Evidence seized by Salt Lake City Police officers during a retail theft investigation (SLCPD photo, February 14, 2024).

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