A Californiafamily landed themselves in handcuffs after deciding to go on a Target shoplifting spree, police say.
On the night of April 16, a couple and their teenage son were caught on security cameras robbing a Target in Upland, California, according to the Upland Police Department (UPD).
A shocking footage compilation shared by the department showed the family dispersing themselves throughout the store - snatchingelectronics, clothing and jewelry before they fled without paying.
As they entered, the mother and son were seen hopping on electric mobility shopping carts to ride around Target and have their pick at what to take.
Police received a call about a theft in progress, but the alleged culprits managed to leave the store before police could intervene.
Video showed the moment the son cruised through the exit on an electric shopping cart as his father strolled next to him.
His mother was then seen scurrying out after them, carrying several gray shopping bags jammed with unpaid-for items.
But an officer saw the suspects frantically driving their white SUV through a residential neighborhood - making sudden turns to try and dodge the police.
A California family landed themselves in handcuffs after deciding to go on a Target shoplifting spree (pictured from left to right: a mother, a teenage son and a father in handcuffs)
As they entered, the mother and son were seen hopping on electric mobility shopping carts to ride around Target and decide what they wanted to take (pictured)
When the cop car finally caught up with the vehicle, the teen leaped out, as his parents allegedly told him to do, and sprinted away with some of the stolen merchandise.
He attempted to escape authorities by running through someone's backyard, which only sparked greater efforts to track him down.
'We don’t take someone running from us lightly, so a number of officers responded to the area, including our K9 and assistance from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department,' the UPD wrote.
Meanwhile, body cam footage captured a snip of an officer's confrontation with the parents when he pulled them over.
'Don't lie to me. We already know. He saw it, we saw it all happen, who jumped out of the car and where is he going?' the officer said before arresting the pair.
The teenager was soon track down and joined his parents in handcuffs, as the UPD posted on Facebook, and the getaway car was towed.
Police confiscated at least 10 different pieces of clothing, including what appears to be outfits for a baby, a PlayStation controller and a basketball hoop.
Police confiscated various clothing items, electronics and pieces of jewelry, according to the department (pictured: some of the stolen goods)
A shocking footage compilation shared by the police department showed the family dispersing themselves throughout the store (pictured: the mother and father loading items into an electric shopping cart)
On the night of April 16, a couple and their teenage son were caught on security cameras robbing a Target in Upland, California (pictured)
Pictured on top of the basketball hoop was a colorful electronic device that lights up with various designs such as a peace sign or a football.
Even though they released information and video from the dramatic arrest, the suspects have not been publicly named and their faces have been blurred because the incident is still under investigation.
In 2023, California saw a surge in shoplifting incidents from 2019, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.
There were about 24,000 more instances of these kinds of thefts in 2023 than four years prior.
According to the most recent available data from the California Budget and Policy Center, every 210 out of 100,000 Californians had shoplifted in 2022.
This year, California Governor Gavin Newsom vowed to crack down on retail theft and property crime.
State laws, which went to effect in January, allow officers to arrest suspects of shoplifting with probable cause, even if they did not witness the act themselves.
The probation period for petty thefts and shoplifting was also doubled from one year to two.
When police caught up to the family's car, the teen leaped out and sprinted away into someone's yard (pictured)
After his parents were arrested, police were able to track down the teenager and handcuffed him as well (pictured)
Additionally, those found guilty of robbing a store can be banned from the location for up to two years, according to the governor's office.
If a California shoplifter is found with more than $950 worth of stolen items with the intent to sell them, they could face up to three years in prison.
'California’s new laws tackle today’s biggest emerging challenges head-on,' Newsom said in a December 2024 press release.
'Through partnership with the Legislature, we’re strengthening public safety, building more housing, and providing more resources for our communities.
'These practical reforms protect what matters most while creating more opportunities for all Californians.'
