A transient was arrested for theft after he was seen by deputies running from a store in Valencia on Saturday.  

Around 11:30 a.m., a deputy was patrolling the 23300 block of Valencia Boulevard in Valencia when he observed suspicious activity, said Shirley Miller, a spokesperson for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

The deputy saw a man quickly enter a store and then saw him running out with items, Miller said. 

“The deputy confirmed with store personnel that an adult male had just stolen items from the location and fled,” Miller said.

The deputy located the suspect by a nearby bike path, where he was taken into custody.

Eric Beals, 42, a transient, was found to have prior theft convictions.

Beals was arrested on felony charges of petty theft with two prior convictions. He was transported and booked into the SCV Sheriff’s Station jail and remains in custody on no bail.

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