Police Arrest Victoria's Secret Thief

A woman believed to have stolen more than $100,000 in merchandise from Victoria's Secret and Sephora stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire was arrested Friday.

Jennifer Santos, 27, of 57 Cedar St., Lawrence, MA was charged in connection with a series of shoplifting incidents at the Northshore Mall in Peabody, MA. Police said previously that they believed the Northshore Mall thefts were linked to similar thefts at the Mall at Rockingham Park in Salem.

Contacted Friday night, Salem Deputy Police Chief Shawn Patten confirmed that Santos is the suspect in the Salem thefts as well.

Peabody Police said the multi-jurisdictional investigation lasted about four months, and Santos was taken into custody without incident at her residence around 2 p.m. on Friday.

A press release from Peabody, MA Police Capt. Dennis Bonaiuto said the department initiated its investigation in May, following repeated thefts from two stores at the Northshore Mall. The statement indicated those stores were Sephora and Victoria's Secret.

Police obtained a surveillance photo of the suspect which they provided to local news outlets in late August, asking the public for help in identifying the woman. Bonaiuto said investigators subsequently learned the suspect's identity, but could not locate her at first.

He said the investigation is still ongoing and includes other malls in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Further charges may be forthcoming.

Santos will be arraigned in Peabody District Court on Sept. 16 on six counts of larceny over $250 and three counts of trespassing.