Crime & Safety
Oakdale Woman Faces Felony Theft Charge
She and her alleged accomplice were arrested Aug. 15 at the TJ Maxx in Oak Park Heights and were linked to a theft from earlier in the month.
An Oakdale woman has been charged with a felony stemming from two alleged shoplifting incidents this month.
Christina Lee Coombs, 25, was apprehended with another woman outside the TJ Maxx in Oak Park Heights at about 6:45 p.m. Aug. 15, and the two were later linked to an Aug. 3 theft at the same store.
In total, more than $2,690 in merchandise was stolen.
Find out what's happening in Oakdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
An employee at the store saw Coombs and Briana Nichole Jefferson, 21, with noticing bulges in the handbags they were carrying as they left, according to the criminal complaint. They were then stopped by police.
The goods they allegedly took during the Aug. 15 incident totaled about $350.
Find out what's happening in Oakdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
But employees also told police they believed the two were involved in an Aug. 3 theft from the store, and surveillance video from TJ Maxx showed the duo stealing 16 handbags valued at more than $2,000 together, according to the complaint.
If convicted, Coombs faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.