Customer’s 911 call uncovers shoplifting scheme by grocery employees in Placer County

Placer County deputies arrested seven people involved in a shoplifting scheme at a Tahoe Vista grocery store — six of whom were employees.

Around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a customer at the Safeway in Tahoe Vista, who reported that people were loading two cars with stolen groceries. After the customer relayed information about the vehicles, deputies were able to track them down and found nearly $2,500 worth of stolen groceries inside.

Seven people were arrested in connection to the incident, all between the ages of 19 and 23.

According to a Sheriff’s Office social media post, during an investigation into the incident, deputies determined that six of the seven alleged shoplifters were working at the store and helped load the unbagged groceries into multiple shopping carts.

All seven people arrested were charged with felony burglary and conspiracy to commit a crime.

This story was originally published July 18, 2022 at 3:24 PM.