PENITAS - The third times the charm for Penitas Police. In just six weeks, three different people have come in and tried to steal from Walmart the exact same way.
The plan was simple. Each person brought in an old Walmart bag of their own, picked up whatever item they wanted to take, put it in the bag and walked out the front door.
But as they walked out, each person got hand cuffs slapped on their wrists.
"In the last three incidents, all three individuals have been caught. So that's why we are sending this message to the individuals that are thinking of coming to our city and thinking of doing the same thing, eventually you will be caught," said Inv. Sgt. Andres Martinez, Penitas Police.
Surveillance video released from the store helped police catch Hugo Balderas on Sunday, and Rosalinda Martinez today.
Police said they do have theories as to why these people tried to steal.
"Some of them will take these items and take it to the flea market and try to sell them, others they are low budget, low income families that they want to provide more for their children, so they come and at that time it seems easy to grab that merchandise that doesn't belong to them without paying and try to take it to their children," said Inv. Sgt. Martinez.
All three suspects were arrested and arraigned on theft charges.