Two men suspected of stealing $15,500 worth of merchandise from Santa Rosa Lululemon store

Two Vallejo men were in custody Tuesday, suspected of beating a security guard after stealing 150 items from an exercise apparel store in an east Santa Rosa shopping center.

The two men went into the Lululemon store in Montgomery Village about 1:30 p.m. Monday and grabbed the haul of yoga wear worth an estimated $15,500, police said. As they were leaving, a security employee confronted them and he was punched multiple times by the men before they fled, Santa Rosa police property crimes Sgt. Dave Marconi said. The security guard was treated at a local hospital for a broken bone and cuts needing stitches.

Monday’s incident was the fourth reported theft from the clothing store in just over a year.

Witnesses helped police with a car description and officers alerted neighboring law enforcement agencies. Petaluma police spotted a gold Nissan Pathfinder on Highway 101 near Lakeville Highway. They stopped the driver and passenger and arrested them at gunpoint.

The merchandise missing from the store was in the car.

Jarontae Armani Kentrell Madison, 21, and Latrell Lamont King, 22, were booked into the Sonoma County Jail, suspected of five felonies - grand theft, robbery, conspiracy, possession of stolen property and assault with great bodily injury. Bail was set at $50,000 each.

In September, four women ran in and took about $30,000 worth of clothing from the same store. In June, thieves took $20,000 in merchandise. And in September 2018, four women ran in and stole about $19,000 in workout apparel. Police haven’t reported arrests in those three previous crimes.

During the theft in September of this year, the women fled the area in a car chased by Santa Rosa police and later by CHP. The initial chase exceeded 100 mph and involved the women passing other vehicles on the shoulders of roads. The second pursuit also involved reckless driving by the women and both law enforcement agencies backed off due to public safety concerns.

Officials asked anyone who saw the latest robbery or has information to contact detectives at 707-543-3575.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com.