CLACKAMAS, Ore. -- Two thieves knew there were a lot of police at the Fred Meyer off Southeast Johnson Creek Boulevard in Clackamas Wednesday morning -- but apparently they just didn’t care.
While dozens of officers -- foot patrol, detectives, K9 officers, officers on horseback -- were in and around the store as part of the annual “Shop with a Cop” back to school event, police said Shane Alexander, 20, of Hillsboro and Jason Vantress, 30, of Southeast Portland were moving about the store, filling their backpacks with shoplifted merchandise.
"They were a little freaked out when they saw all the cops at first, but then decided the police would be too distracted, helping kids to notice them," said police Spokesman Pete Simpson.
Police officers assisted security in making the arrests.
As for the back-to-school charity event, Simpson said it was a tremendous success. Each student received about $150 in gift cards for a shopping spree. The Portland police Sunshine Division teamed-up with Fred Meyer for the Shop-with-a-Cop event.
"They realize, hey, we're out there doing this because we care about them," said police spokesman Larry Graham.
