UPDATE, 3:50 p.m.: Brittany Powell of the Eureka Police Department tells us that a principal suspect in this string of incidents has been identified. The suspect’s name, she said, will be forwarded to the district attorney’s office for possible arrest/prosecution.

The Eureka Police Department cannot make an arrest in this case without obtaining an arrest warrant, as the amount of merchandise stolen appears to qualify the crime as merely a misdemeanor.

“It is our hope that by sharing these photos, the suspects were deterred and another incident was prevented,” Powell wrote.

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UPDATE, 1:45 p.m.: The Eureka Police Department has updated its warning to area shopkeepers in light of new information, and has published some security camera stills as well. Long story short: Police now believe that this crew includes two women and a man traveling in the same Kia, round-robin hitting the stores in question.

Updated information and security cam photos from the EPD: 

In the last hour we have had 3 reports of a male and two females entering local stores and stealing large amounts of clothing. Suspects are reportedly driving a black Kia Forte CA plate 6LUS253. The three suspects haven’t all entered each location. 

The surveillance images below are from a local clothing store on the 500 block of 4th street. The two females stole several articles of clothing and left in the black Kia at about 11:45 a.m. 

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This is a black Kia Forte.

Via the Eureka Police Department’s Facebook page:

Be on the lookout! 

In the last hour we have had 3 reports of a male and female entering local stores and stealing large amounts of clothing. Suspects are reportedly driving a black Kia Forte CA plate 6LUS253.

White female adult, 20-25 years old, 5‘6”, thin build. She has had a different sweatshirt at each location. 

White male, red shirt over black long sleeve.

Call EPD at 441-4044 if you have any information. More information and descriptions will be shared as available.