A lot of people are going holiday shopping at Target in Lathrop, and apparently not all of them plan on paying for what they want to take home.

Twice in the last three days the Lathrop Police Department busted attempts at organized retail theft at the store – chasing a thief on Saturday that was seen running out of the store’s emergency exit with over $2,000 worth of merchandise she didn’t pay for and arresting the thief and an accomplish after they wrecked their vehicle.

Then on Monday, police arrested two women from Oakland who attempted to steal over $1,200 worth of merchandise.

Both of the incidents meet the threshold for felony charges, and with the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office operating a retail theft unit that specializes in such cases, both will likely be prosecuted.

“ORT has posed a significant challenge to retailers and law enforcement agencies in San Joaquin County, California, and across the United States,” the DA’s office wrote about the crime on the retail theft unit page on the county’s website. “Because of its organized nature, it has a far greater impact than individual instances of shoplifting.

“It leads to higher retail losses, affects pricing, and can even lead to job losses within the retail industry.”

Lathrop Police Officers on Saturday attempted to stop the vehicle that was seen driving away from Target with what ended up being more than $2,000 worth of merchandise. When the vehicle fled, officers gave chase and the pursuit was ultimately terminated at the intersection of Louise Avenue and Cambridge Drive after the driver crashed.

Both suspects were medically cleared and were then booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on multiple felony charges.