Man Celebrates Birthday with Shoplifting Arrest, 3 Felony Counts

A security team member at a San Rafael pharmacy recognized a customer as a previous shoplifter and kept an eye on him Friday afternoon, leading to a fresh burglary arrest, police said Saturday.

Sukhwinder Sohi of San Pablo was arrested on his 32nd birthday at 3:37 p.m. at the restaurant, San Rafael police Sgt. Lisa Holton said. The arrest came after a call about a shoplifting incident from the pharmacy at the Montecito Plaza shopping center, she said.

Sohi was recognized as someone who had stolen items from Rite Aid in the past, so security personnel watched him as he loaded his backpack with several hundred dollars’ worth of liquor and tried to walk out of the store, Holton said. According to the police report, Sohi dropped the backpack outside the store and walked away, then was located shortly thereafter at the Seafood Peddler, a half-mile walk from Rite Aid across the San Rafael canal.

Sohi, who was cooperative with arresting officers, was booked on felony counts of burglary, petty theft with a prior jail term and possession of a controlled substance.