Full Notification

Today, around 12:00 pm, San Leandro Police detectives located and arrested 51 yr old Karen Cotton, a San Leandro transient, for the theft of a backpack from a Jack in the Box restaurant on October 6th, 2018.
 
Suspect Karen Cotton was identified in the theft from surveillance video inside of Jack in the Box restaurant located at 699 Lewelling Blvd. The backpack stolen belonged to an 18 yr old female employee who accidentally left the bag unattended in the dining area. The employee, who was recently engaged to marry, had her diamond engagement ring inside of her backpack along with cash and other valuables. The victim employee realized the bag was left behind and only minutes later returned to find the backpack gone. The total loss was estimated at $1500.
 
After reviewing surveillance video from the store, suspect Cotton was seen in the dining area selecting the backpack and removing it from the restaurant. The theft was reported to the San Leandro Police Department, and on October 12th, the suspect’s photo was released to the media for assistance in learning her identity.
 
A day after the suspect’s photo was released, detectives working the case received a tip identifying the suspect as Karen Cotton. Further investigation confirmed the suspect seen in the surveillance video stealing the victim’s backpack was, in fact, Karen Cotton.
 
On October 17th, an Alameda County Judge issued a warrant for Cotton’s arrest for the theft of the victim’s backpack. Today, detectives located Cotton in the 15400 block of Hesperian Blvd. in San Leandro. Detectives attempted to speak to Cotton about the theft in an attempt to recover the victim’s engagement ring; however, she refused to cooperate with the investigation.
 
“We were hoping to find some compassion in the suspect, hoping that she would at least help us locate and return the engagement ring to the young woman,” said San Leandro Police Lieutenant Isaac Benabou. “Often time people commit thefts because the opportunity is there and don’t think about the personal attachments the items may have to the victim. I have seen many theft suspects do what is right and return the property to the victims, but not Karen Cooper. This suspect showed no compassion or remorse for stealing the young woman’s engagement ring.”
 
Cooper was booked into the San Leandro City Jail and will be arraigned next week at Alameda County’s East County Courthouse in Dublin.