On November 30, 2025, officers responded to a report of a theft that occurred at Kohl's located at 8440 Highway 7, St. Louis Park, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The reporting party indicated that the suspect was a shorter female wearing a tan coat and had concealed items inside of a bag. Officers apprehended a suspect matching the description, who was later identified as BRITTNEY MARIE MEZA, DEFENDANT herein. The reporting party confirmed that the suspect was the same person observed in the store. The reporting party observed the DEFENDANT select 23 items of merchandise, enter the fitting room with personal tote bags, and exit the fitting room without the items but carrying personal tote bags.
The DEFENDANT was observed leaving the store passing all points of purchase without paying for the items. Some of the selected items had security tags, which did not alert when the DEFENDANT exited the store with the unpaid merchandise. The reporting party found 7 defeated security tags clearly cut with a tool in the fitting room previously occupied by the DEFENDANT. The merchandise was valued at $650 and was recovered. The DEFENDANT was searched incident to arrest, and a nail cutter was discovered in her right front pocket, consistent with the damage to the defeated security tags.
The DEFENDANT is currently in custody.
