Full Notification

Thief Arrested At Truck Stop

On 12-22-15 at approximately 3:45 pm Ripon officers responded to the Loves Truck Stop (1553 W. Colony Rd.) regarding a theft in progress. Employees provided police with a description of the suspect, along with details of the items that were being stolen. Just prior to the officers arrival, the suspect reportedly fled the area with stolen property.

Responding officers located a vehicle the suspect was last seen in at the Flying J Travel Plaza (1501 N. Jack tone Rd.). Employees advised officers that a male matching the same description as the Loves Truck Stop suspect, had been seen attempting to steal items at the Flying J Travel Plaza minutes before the officers arrived.

The suspect was located and he was reportedly identified by employees as the suspect who both stole, and attempted to steal merchandise from the truck Stops.

The suspect Jeffrey Alan Berry (49) of Stockton was booked into the San Joaquin County jail on a shoplifting charge.

Department spokesperson, Lt. Steve Merchant said the suspect in Tuesdays arrest has been arrested three other times in Ripon regarding theft charges at the truck stops.

Merchant said prior to the passage of Proposition 47, a person who entered a store with the intent to steal merchandise could be found guilty of a commercial burglary which could be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. After the passage of Proposition 47, a person who enters a store during business hours with the intent to steal merchandise is only guilty of the misdemeanor offense of shoplifting.

Lt. Merchant praised both the quick action of the employees at the truck stops, and the quick response of the patrol officers. He noted that local Ripon businesses and the department work closely together to combat crime.

Merchant said, “In cases like these we sometimes have citizens ask why we can’t do more to keep criminals from committing repeat offenses, like shoplifting. We fully investigate the report and we make the arrest when it’s appropriate. The rest is up to our judicial system.”