With the public's help, officers were able to identify Robert Lavender, 49, of San Jose, who they suspect of stealing $400 worth of electronic-gaming equipment from the Kohl's department store on Aug. 17, according to Sgt. Chad Gallacinao of the .
Officers asked for the public's help in identifying Lavender, who frequents the Gilroy area, on, and had enough information to identify him the following day.
"Shortly after the [surveillance] photo was pictured by the media, we received anonymous information regarding his identity, which we further followed up on and confirmed," Gallacinao said.
Police identified Lavender by comparing photos taken from Khols' surveillance footage against snapshots of the suspect taken in 2006 and 2010. Lavender's appearance had changed significantly, but apparently not enough to fool GPD officials.
"[His photo] from 2006 looks completely different from 2010, which is totally different from the surveillance photos," Gallacinao said.
Lavender is currently a fugitive and is wanted for a felony burglary warrant, and is also wanted for a no bail warrant from a felony parole violation.
Officers didn't know about Lavender's prior warrant until his photo was published in August, and he now faces a $20,000 bail when he's detained, Gallacinao said.
"It's just a matter of time till his arrest for his outstanding warrants, and till he has to face the consequences for what he did," he said.
