Renton Police on March 21 arrested a 48-year-old store owner for trafficking stolen property in the first degree.

Acting on a tip from Redmond Police, detectives investigated Maria Ramirez-Perez, owner of Tienda Latina at 927A Harrington Ave. N.E. for buying and selling stolen property at her business.

The investigation determined that the suspect would “place orders” for items (liquor, meats, personal and household items) to be stolen, then purchase the stolen property from the thief for re-sale.

The owner would then sell the stolen goods for a profit, circumnavigating legal requirements for sales of spirits as well as depriving victim businesses of profiting from rightfully purchased inventory.

“Have you ever heard the saying, ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is?'” asked Renton Public Iformation Officer Terri Vickers asked in an email. “Those cheap razor blades and beauty products for sale on auction sites and ‘lists,’ random products offered for sale in parking lots, or unlikely items sold at stores that don’t usually carry that sort of thing are often stolen. Buying stolen goods doesn’t just cheat the system – it cheats everyone by pushing up product prices, increasing the cost of security and safety packaging, etc.”

Ramirez-Perez was booked into the SCORE Jail on charges of Felony Investigation of Trafficking Stolen Property. A search warrant served at the business recovered known stolen property and cash involved in the illegal transactions.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is – so spend your dollars wisely!” Vickers said.