On January 25, 2024, at approximately 1:00 PM, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported theft at the Mar-Val grocery store situated at 55 Highway 12 in Valley Springs, California, unfolding a series of events leading to the apprehension of the suspect.
Upon arrival, deputies engaged with store employees who detailed an attempted theft by a subject identified as 37-year-old Gary Lenz from Stockton, the sheriff’s office said.
Lenz allegedly tried to abscond from the store with a shopping cart filled with groceries valued at just under $1,000 without completing the necessary payment, deputies said.
The confrontation occurred in the parking lot, prompting Lenz to abandon the ill-gotten groceries and walk away from the scene. Undeterred, deputies initiated a search and located Lenz in the nearby vicinity. In a twist, Lenz provided a false name in an attempt to avoid criminal charges, according to investigators.
Lenz, sporting a distinctive black shirt with the bold imprint “Trust No One,” remained steadfast in denying any involvement in the theft. However, the Sheriff’s deputies, heeding the sage advice emblazoned on his shirt, continued their investigation into his identity and potential role in the crime.