FRESNO – Three men believed to be responsible for stealing more than $3,000 worth or property from a northwest Fresno Target store were arrested last week.
Arthur Michel
The theft happened at the Target near the 6000 block of North Riverside Drive on Thursday. Loss prevention officers informed police about the theft and identified the suspects from a prior theft at another department store, according to authorities.
The three suspects, identified as Arthur Michel, 28, Lerme Lerma, 56, and Damian Reyes-Martinez, 18, all from Modesto, attempted to escape with the stolen merchandise in an SUV. A Fresno police helicopter followed them as they headed south on Highway 99 and exited on Shaw Avenue, according to authorities.
Damian Reyes Martinez
Officers were then able to arrest the three individuals. The officers found five Dyson brand vacuum cleaners, a 32-inch flat screen TV and several small electronics inside the SUV. They were all still in their original packaging.
Michel, Lerma and Reyes-Martinez were booked into Fresno County Jail on burglary charges.
