Shoplifting Suspect Arrested After Brief Pursuit in Pasadena

A Beverly Hills woman led police on a brief pursuit after she was caught shoplifting from a Nordstrom Rack store in Pasadena on Friday, police said.

An employee of the store at 3363 E. Foothill Blvd. flagged down a passing officer about 8:30 p.m. and relayed that a woman had just left the store with a large bag of stolen merchandise, Pasadena Police Department Lt. Anthony Burgess said. The suspect was still walking through the parking lot.

When the officer confronted the woman, she dropped the bag of goods, ran to a nearby parked car and sped away, according to Burgess.

The driver led police on a pursuit for about a mile before ultimately pulling over and surrendering, he said.

Udoka Uzdaru, 27, of Beverly Hills was booked on suspicion of shoplifting and evading police, Burgess said.

Information regarding Uzdaru’s bail amount and initial court appearance was not available Saturday morning.