By Gina Yarbrough
El Cajon, CA–Two separate incidents of theft at a retail store at Parkway Plaza were dealt with by police in El Cajon on Monday, the El Cajon Police Department said.
The first incident occurred around 1:45 p.m. when a man stole a pair of Nike Air Force Ones and clothing from Dick’s Sporting Goods. Despite a heavy police presence at the mall, the suspect attempted to flee but was apprehended quickly.
The alleged thief was identified as 29-year-old Cedric Hunt from San Diego. Hunt has an outstanding arrest warrant and was known to law enforcement with a criminal history spanning nearly a decade. He was booked into County Jail.
Later that day, around 6:10 p.m., Loss Prevention employees at Dick’s Sporting Goods observed another man stealing various items from the store. El Cajon police and local loss prevention teams were able to locate and apprehend the suspect, 39-year-old Ignacio Hernandez from San Diego, who was found with all the stolen property on him. The items were promptly returned to the store. Hernandez, who also has a lengthy arrest record, was released on a citation.
Chief Mike Moulton of the El Cajon Police Department emphasized their commitment to holding criminals accountable for such thefts.
“The El Cajon Police Department will use every resource available to hold criminals who commit these types of thefts accountable. Criminal acts will not be tolerated and will have consequences for those who commit them,” Chief Moulton said.
The El Cajon Police Department continues to work closely with the community and retailers to ensure the safety and security of Parkway Plaza and its visitors.
