Alleged Shoplifting Spree Leads to Arrest of Two Chehalis Boys

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Two Chehalis boys, ages 12 and 13, have been referred to juvenile authorities on theft charges after what police say was a Wednesday evening shoplifting spree that ended with the boys flashing Airsoft guns at a Chehalis business.

According to Chehalis Police, a woman in the 200 block of Southwest Lewis Street called police at 9:23 Wednesday evening to report that her 12-year-old son was missing. A half-hour later, police responded to the Desert Sun Tanning Salon at 1401 Louisiana Avenue in Chehalis where they found the boy with a 13-year-old boy.

Police say the boys had arrived at the tanning salon after allegedly shoplifting at five Chehalis businesses. The boys are alleged to have stolen a flashlight from Ace Hardware on Market Boulevard, cologne from Rite Aid and condoms from Kmart. Police also say the boys stole two airsoft guns from Big 5 Sporting Goods in the Twin City Town Center, and also swiped a laser sight from Walmart.

A police report indicated the boys flashed the guns repeatedly at a salon employee from outside the door, prompting her to lock the door and call police from the back of the business. The woman, who said the boys kept running past the business after having come in to ask if the business was a tanning salon, apparently thought the gun was fake, but thought the kids needed to be counseled by police.

Chehalis cops arrested the boys at 9:54 p.m. and referred them to the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of theft. One of the boys - police didn't say which - was referred on an additional charge of unlawful display of a weapon.

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Christopher Brewer: (360) 807-8235