By Gina Yarbrough
East County, CA–Sheriff’s detectives arrested a San Diego man Thursday in connection with a series of shoplifting incidents at Kohl’s stores in East County and Chula Vista, authorities said.
Investigators identified Rafael Rendon as the suspect in three thefts totaling $4,070 in merchandise from Kohl’s department stores. He was arrested Feb. 26 on suspicion of grand theft with two or more prior convictions, and committing a felony while out on bail.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began after two thefts were reported Jan. 26 and Jan. 30 at the Rancho San Diego Kohl’s location, where approximately $2,700 in merchandise was taken. Detectives later determined Rendon was also responsible for a Jan. 23 theft at a Kohl’s store in Chula Vista, where $1,370 in merchandise was stolen.
Authorities said Rendon was out of custody on bail for a previous grand theft arrest at the time of the alleged crimes.
On Feb. 26, detectives conducted a search at Rendon’s residence in the 2100 block of South 41st Street in San Diego. During a search of the home and his vehicle, investigators recovered a large quantity of clothing items consistent with merchandise reported stolen from Kohl’s.
Rendon was booked into San Diego Central Jail. Among the charges he faces is grand theft with two or more prior convictions– a statute approved by California voters in 2024 as part of California Proposition 36.
