Kevin Patterson
From: Michael Hilber
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2025 11:57 AM
To: Kevin Patterson
Subject: City Council Meeting Oct 28 2025 Comment Item 5, non agenda Items Attachments: Email.pdf
CAUTION:EXTERNAL SENDER
If suspicious, do not click on links, open attachments, or provide credentials and report it by using the "Phish Alert Report" button.
Attached is a document describing a wild and entertaining alleged multi day shoplifting spree at the Lowes store in the City of Cotati. This is a store which collects the 10.25% sales tax applicable in the city but when merchandise walks out the door unpaid, guess what, no tax gets collected This case is still pending in the court, but the defendant has had a preliminary hearing and has been held to answer. He has been offered a plea deal but has declined and a trial date has been set, in January 2026.
is alleged to have walked out with thousands of dollars worth of merchandise over a period of weeks. The attached document shows "Outdoor Natural Gas $739" and that is believed to be tankless gas water heaters for use outdoors which have a retail price tag now of about $950 so $739 may refer to the wholesale value for charging purposes. Note there are two of these on the shoplifting list. There are also things like a sink, kitchen cabinet, and garbage disposal. The last entry on the shoplifting list is especially entertaining. It describes the ole blue tag switcheroo and a backpack leaf blower valued at $499 walking out the door. The item before that describes a swing set valued at $298 leaving through the garden department. is alleged to have waived an invoice at the cashier, so that was a nice touch.
The way Lowes absorbs these shoplifting losses is to cut wages and reduce hours of employees.
City of Cotati emails and website have changed from .org to gov. Please update the email address in your contacts accordingly. Under the Public Records Act (California Government Code $7920.000- 7931.000), e-mail messages of local agencies are public records which are subject to disclosure to the public or may be subpoenaed.
3/30/25, 1:17 PM Gmail - RE: Phone Appointment - Reschedule to March 6 at 3 pm M Gmail
RE: Phone Appointment - Reschedule to March 6 at 3 pm
1 message
Dana Gross <Dana.Gross@sonoma-countvoraz
To: Thu, Mar 27, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Yes; here are my notes; I have not double checked but this is what I wrote down when I was initially reviewing your case:
2/2/24 PolyCarb 2.17ft x12ft corrugated smoke polycarbonate $208.60, PolyCarb 2.16ft x8ft corrugated smoke polycarbonate $140.60
2/6/24 Outdoor Natural Gas $739
2/22/24 Outdoor Natural Gas $739
2/25/24 The Hoffman Collection dual-mount 33in x22in stainless $142.28, Evolution 45ss advanced Series, non-corded ¾ HP continu $159.59, Wintucket 12in W x 30in H × 24in D cloud gray Diagona $129.93
2/29 X2 36" Cabinets $252.90
3/14/24 Takes swing set ($298); walks to garden dept, waives an invoice at the cashier, and leaves 3/15/24 picked up online order of a small item, took a Husqvarna backpack blower ($499), put it in the cart, put a blue label on the backpack blower, shows the register the online order receipt, and leaves Dana Rae Gross, Deputy Public Defender
Sonoma County Public Defender
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 10:17 AM
To: Dana Gross <Dana. [email protected]>
Subject: Re: Phone Appointment - Reschedule to March 6 at 3 pm
EXTERNAL
Good morning Dana,
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=04e815cb77&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1825143903631142685%7Cmsg-f:1827807342613341885&... 1/4