By George Slaughter
Katy Police on Thursday confiscated these homemade booster bags and pliers believed to disable store security systems – Katy Police Department photo
Katy Police arrested and charged two women with theft Thursday at the Katy Mills Mall.
Police said Teniqua Baines, 33, of Houston, was charged with theft with two or more prior convictions, a felony, and possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor. Visha Reed, 35, also of Houston, was charged with theft and possession of a controlled substance. Both are misdemeanors.
Police said the arrests are a result of a joint operation aimed at catching shoplifters that targeted Katy Mills Mall stores. The operation involved loss prevention officers, Katy Mills Mall security, and Katy Police.
In performing the arrests, officers watched Baines and Reed enter several retail stores with empty, handmade booster bags, which are used for shoplifting items from stores with security detection devices. Officers watched the women put merchandise into the bags and leave the stores without trying to purchase the items.
Police arrested the women in the mall parking lot and recovered $1,192 in merchandise, two booster bags, plyers used to cut off security sensors, and material used for making the booster bags. Police also found illegal drugs.
Police said both Bains and Reed have extensive criminal histories.
The case will be referred to the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s office.
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- Katy Police on Thursday confiscated these merchandise tags, along with a melted security tag believed to be part of merchandise from a previous theft – Katy Police Department photo
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- Katy Police on Thursday confiscated these homemade booster bags and pliers believed to disable store security systems – Katy Police Department photo
