Police: Stillwater Shoplifting Suspects Had Tools of the Trade

Stillwater police arrested two White Bear Lake residents and a man from South St. Paul on suspicion of shoplifting Monday at several stores in Stillwater and Oak Park Heights, including Famous Footwear, Radio Shack, T.J. Maxx, Walmart and Office Max. 

The White Bear Lake residents including a man, 36, and a woman, 33—who police said were familiar from past shoplifting incidents. The South St. Paul man was 44. 

Police said they recovered several allegedly stolen items as well as drug paraphenalia and shoplifting tools, one of which was described in a Stillwater Police Department report: 

The South St. Paul man told police before they searched him that he had no wallet but had a folding knfe in his shirt pocket. An officer found that knife and then, in searching the suspect's pants pocket, found "another folded pocket knife." 

The Stillwater officer wrote: "It appeared to be some sort of generic pen tool which is spring loaded like a pen but a small angled razor blade comes out from one end. This tool in particular is commonly used in cutting open packages ... [and] was later placed into evidence as described as a shoplifting tool."

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