Daly City Woman Arrested After Theft and Assault at Hillsdale Mall Macy’s; Two Minors Found in Car

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Daly City Woman Arrested After Fleeing Police Following Theft and Assault at Hillsdale Mall Macy’s

San Mateo, CA – In a shocking incident that unfolded at the Hillsdale Mall Macy’s location in San Mateo, a Daly City woman was arrested on Monday evening after allegedly committing theft and assaulting a loss prevention agent. The suspect, identified as 24-year-old Estrella Paniagua, was apprehended along with a teen relative and her own one-year-old toddler child.

According to a news release from the San Mateo Police Department, the incident occurred at around 5:39 p.m. on Monday when authorities received a distress call from the Macy’s store at Hillsdale Mall. The initial report suggested that a shoplifter had pepper-sprayed and assaulted a loss prevention agent. However, upon further investigation, it was revealed that the suspect had the pepper spray on her but was disarmed by the vigilant agents before she could use it.

Authorities stated that Paniagua was caught red-handed while trying to steal cosmetics and clothing by concealing them in the base of a stroller and attempting to leave the store without paying. The suspect was accompanied by a 15-year-old relative and her own one-year-old child during the attempted theft. When confronted by Macy’s loss prevention, Paniagua relinquished the stolen items. However, as the agents detained her for police arrival, she became combative and assaulted one agent by kicking him and attempting to bite another.

Fleeing the scene in a vehicle, Paniagua led the police on a brief pursuit lasting approximately two minutes. During the reckless chase, she ran several stop signs, a stop light, and even caused a minor collision after driving on the wrong side of the road against traffic. The pursuit was eventually terminated after officers learned that there were minors in the car, prioritizing their safety.

Following the termination of the chase, officers reported the last sighting of the suspect’s vehicle traveling westbound on State Route 92 from South El Camino Real. A “be on the lookout” message was issued to all law enforcement agencies in the county as well as the California Highway Patrol. Thankfully, a vigilant Colma police officer spotted the suspect vehicle at around 6:09 p.m. and managed to conduct a successful traffic stop at the intersection of Geneva and San Jose Avenues in San Francisco.

The driver, Paniagua, complied with the officer’s commands and was taken into custody without further incident. Subsequent investigations revealed that Paniagua had also stolen merchandise from another store at the Hillsdale Shopping Center, compounding her charges.

Paniagua now faces multiple charges, including second-degree robbery, evading a peace officer with disregard for public safety, driving in the opposite direction on a road to evade a peace officer, and child endangerment. The two minors accompanying her were released to their respective family members.

This incident serves as a reminder of the vigilance and dedication of law enforcement officers in maintaining public safety and bringing perpetrators to justice. The San Mateo Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies, work tirelessly to ensure the community remains safe from such criminal activities.

Thank you for choosing CBS News for the latest updates on this developing story. Stay tuned for more news and features..