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January 23, 2024 (El Cajon) —The El Cajon Police Department wants the public to know that it is taking retail theft seriously, using “every extent of the law to arrest offenders who commit retail theft and, whenever, put them in jail,” according to a press release issued Jan. 22. But police have also voiced frustration over repeat offenders often back on the streets within hours or days after being arrested.
ECPD provided the following descriptions of suspects arrested over the weekend for shoplifting:
Friday evening, El Cajon Police officers responded to a call of a shoplifter at Dick's Sporting Goods. The subject was gone when the police arrived. The suspect took a shopping cart from the store, loaded it with merchandise, and exited without paying. The officers located the suspect and the shopping cart a block away. The transient suspect directed officers to the stolen merchandise at his tent nearby. Officers arrested the man, who they identified as 44-year-old Dennis Fortney. El Cajon Police have arrested Fortney over 100 times for numerous offenses, including drug possession, domestic violence, and theft.
On Sunday, a male suspect identified as 49-year-old Larell Purvis walked into the Walmart at Parkway Plaza in El Cajon. Purvis attempted to take several clothing items and exit the store without paying for them. Walmart security saw an El Cajon Police car in the parking lot and waived down the officer. Purvis ran from the officer but was quickly caught and arrested. Purvis had two active warrants for his arrest. Purvis is a sex offender and is on probation.
In a second incident on Sunday, two male suspects entered the Dick's Sporting Goods in El Cajon. One of the suspects grabbed a bicycle; the other took several clothing items. Both suspects exited the store without paying for the merchandise. El Cajon Police officers found one suspect in the area with the stolen clothing and arrested him. Officers identified the suspect as 27-year-old Lawrence Walker. Police did not locate the suspect who took the bicycle, but officers are still investigating leads.
Anyone with additional information about these crimes should contact the El Cajon Police Department at 619-579-3311 or Crime Stoppers at http://sdcrimestoppers.org.
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