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SALT LAKE CITY — Heroics from a couple customers helped a security officer stop an armed shoplifter outside a department store on Salt Lake City's east side Monday night.
Salt Lake City police investigators say 43-year-old Randy Elizondo was spotted by security stuffing watches inside his coat at the Kohl's store at Brickyard Plaza.
According to police, a security officer approached Elizondo as he exited the store, and Elizondo pushed the officer away.
Detective Cary Wichmann said outside the store, the security officer — aided by a customer who witnessed what happened — once again tried to stop the man, but Elizondo pulled a knife. A second shopper was watching what was going on and also got involved.
"That witness actually got out of his car and ran over and tackled the guy," Wichmann said.
Wichmann said the three were able to disarm Elizondo and hold him until police arrived.
Elizondo was booked into jail and faces aggravated assault and robbery charges.
"Once you take those items by force — which he did — it turns into a robbery," Wichmann said. "Sometimes people don't understand that they might intend to do a shoplift, however their actions can change it really fast and turn it into a robbery."
While the ordeal worked out in favor of the customers and security officer, police caution people against taking matters into their own hands.
"We definitely don't advise getting that involved, especially when we have a person who is armed with a knife," Wichmann said. "Knives can be as dangerous as guns. Luckily everything turned out (OK)."
Police advise people instead to tail at a distance, call police, and let officers handle the confrontation.
Email: aadams@ksl.com
