New approach nabs Peoria woman in shoplifting case

A 49-year-old Peoria woman admitted to two incidents of shoplifting after police identified her using a program that creates a stronger communications link between businesses and law enforcement, police said today.

On April 30, the woman was contacted by Peoria police officers regarding a shoplifting at the Ulta Store at 7700 W. Bell Road in Peoria. She admitted to the shoplifting as well as a previous one, Peoria police said.

She had stolen a total of $2,048 worth of merchandise in the two incidents, and there was merchandise from other stores found in her car as well, police said.

The arrest was the direct result of a program of the Peoria Police Department call "Loss Prevention Partnership," which involves a strong working partnership between businesses in Peoria and the Peoria Police Department. The program is designed to take the shoplifters off the street and allow police patrol officers to remain in service.

On May 26, the suspect was under the surveillance of detectives from the Peoria Police Property Crimes Section and was observed committing additional shopliftings in Phoenix.

She was arrested by Peoria detectives and booked.

The Maricopa County Attorneys' Office has charged Vanessa Johnson with three counts of felony shoplifting.