Commercial Burglary Arrest

On 04/01/2022 at approximately 1718 hours Chico Police dispatch received a call from employees at Best Buy, located at 2005 Forest Ave. Employees advised a female entered the store, placed multiple items inside a shopping cart and walked out the front doors without paying. Employees who witnessed the theft attempted to contact and stop the suspect. The female refused to stop, and employees did not detain or restrain her in anyway. The suspect entered a red Jeep driven by an unknown male with the stolen property and left. A license plate of the Jeep was obtained and broadcasted to Chico officers, Paradise P.D., and Butte County Sheriff’s Office.

At approximately 2159 hours Chico Police was contacted by Paradise Police Department and made aware that the vehicle, suspect, and stolen property from Best Buy had been stopped and detained by their agency on Skyway near Dogtown Rd. in Paradise/Magalia.

An officer from Chico Police Department met with the officers from Paradise Police Department and took custody of the suspect, identified as Meagan Wade (21 years old) from the State of Maine. The driver and registered owner of the Jeep, Arron Cover, was arrested on unrelated charges by the Paradise Police Department.

Wade was still wearing the same clothing she was wearing at the time of the Best Buy theft and in the same vehicle she fled in, both captured on security video at Best Buy. Wade was interviewed by the officer but denied being the suspect or knowing how the stolen property got into the vehicle. Based on the evidence and investigation, Wade was arrested for commercial burglary.

Additionally, besides the property recovered from the Best Buy burglary, a large amount of new clothing, with price tags, on hangers and still with security sensors on it was also recovered. A receipt for any of the property was not located or in the possession of Wade or Cover. Additional follow up by the officer will be conducted to determine the victims of the other stolen property.

Location: 2005 Forest Ave. Chico, CA.

Date/Time: 04/01/2022 @ 1718 hours

Suspect: Meagan Wade (21 y/o)

Supervisor: Mark Bass,

Sergeant Watch Commander: Omar Pena, Lt