On or about December 23, 2025 at approximately 3:56 P.M., officers responded to a shoplifting call from the department store Macy’s at the Southdale Mall in Edina, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Officers arrived on scene and met with Asset Protection Associates, who reported a suspect, later identified as GERALD NICOLAS CEPEDA, [DOB REDACTED] (“DEFENDANT” herein), stole a tennis bracelet worth $6,400 from the hands of an employee and ran out of the store approximately 20 minutes prior to police’s arrival.
Asset Protection Associates stated DEFENDANT ran out of the store through “Door 7” after he took the bracelet, and he dropped his cellphone and several folded pieces of paper near the door. Near Door 7, Asset Protection Associates recovered a cellphone and several court documents with DEFENDANT’S name printed on them. Officers spoke with K. N. (“Victim” herein), a Macy’s employee from the fine jewelry department. Victim [NAME REDACTED] was talking with a customer, later identified as DEFENDANT, and this customer asked Victim to see a white gold tennis bracelet, which retailed for $6,400. Victim was holding the bracelet for DEFENDANT to see, and DEFENDANT grabbed the bracelet from Victim’s hand.
Victim stated DEFENDANT ran out “Door 7” with the bracelet. Officers reviewed surveillance video from Macy’s and positively identified DEFENDANT as the customer who ran out of Door 7 with the tennis bracelet.
