On 5/27/26 at about 1745 hours, an Asset Protection Associate, GB, notified Roseville Police of a shoplifting in progress at JC Penney at 1595 Highway 36 W in Roseville, Ramsey County. GB said that a male and female suspect were in the store actively selecting and concealing merchandise. GB then reported that the suspects had taken merchandise into a fitting room, exited with concealed merchandise, and discarded broken anti-theft security sensors that had been affixed to the merchandise. The two suspects then left the store without paying for the merchandise.
Upon arrival, police found the suspects walking in the parking lot with JC Penney Asset Protection personnel following behind them. Police stopped and arrested the two suspects who were later identified as Kristin Ann PEDERSEN [DOB REDACTED] and Ismael VILLEGAS Jr. [DOB REDACTED]. When searching incident to arrest, the officer discovered that VILLEGAS was wearing two pairs of jeans. The under layer of jeans still had a JC Penney price tag attached and were stained with blue ink as if a security sensor had been broken causing the ink to damage the clothing.
In VILLEGAS’ outer layer of jeans, the officer found a folding knife and two magnets. In a cross-body bag that he was carrying, the officer found a pair of pliers. VILLEGAS admitted that he had stolen the under layer of jeans that he was wearing. In the purse that PEDERSEN was carrying, police found a pair of stolen black leggings. BG informed the officer that PEDERSEN selected the pair of pants and a pair of socks from the sales floor while VILLEGAS also selected merchandise from the sales floor.
The two went to a fitting room and exited together. A post-sweep of the fitting room revealed defeated anti-theft security sensors and missing merchandise. The two then left the store without paying for the merchandise. PEDERSEN had the leggings concealed in her purse. VILLEGAS had the concealed jeans, concealed socks (inside a shoe box), and a shoe box containing shoes (total value $183.76). BG also confirmed that the broken/cut anti-theft security sensor that had been recovered had been affixed to the jeans VILLEGAS was wearing.
Finally, BG said that they had recovered a cable lock security sensor which had been on the shoes that VILLEGAS was carrying. Magnets are commonly used to defeat these types of cable lock security sensors. During a post-Miranda statement, VILLEGAS admitted stealing the merchandise from the store, admitted prying the security tag off the jeans, and said he used his knife to defeat the cable lock security sensor that had been on the shoes he was carrying at the time of his arrest.
