CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake woman who police said was responsible for stealing a computer from a children's clothing store has been taken into custody on several warrants.

Nicole Aylene White, 32, was arrested late Sunday night, according to Clearlake Police Sgt. Rodd Joseph.

Joseph said that on Dec. 7 Clearlake Police officers responded to a report of a theft of a laptop computer from Kingdom Kids, located at 14455 Lakeshore Drive. 

During the investigation officers discovered, after reviewing surveillance video, that the theft had actually occurred the previous day and had been committed by a customer of the business, Joseph said.

Joseph said the surveillance video showed a white female adult stealing the store’s computer from the counter and concealing it under her jacket as she left the store. She even took the time to unplug the computer from the charging cord before concealing it and exiting the store. 

Several Clearlake Police officers reviewed the video and were able to positively identify the suspect as White, Joseph said.

Clearlake Police officers had been actively searching for White since they identified her as the suspect. Joseph said she also had five misdemeanor warrants for her arrest for various charges including theft, forgery, driving on a suspended license and possession of stolen property. Two of the warrants of arrest were no bail. The remaining three other warrants had a bail total of $25,000.00.

On Sunday, Officer Travis Parson obtained information that White was hiding out in a residence located in the 15800 block of 32nd Avenue, where she was reported to be trying to avoid police contact, Joseph said.

Just before 11 p.m. Sunday, several Clearlake Police officers went to the residence where White was found hiding inside. Joseph said she was taken into custody on the five warrants.

During questioning about the Dec. 7 computer theft, White claimed she had taken it on “accident” and provided Officer Parson the location where she had hidden the stolen computer, Joseph said.

Joseph said White had stashed the stolen computer inside a boat parked in a driveway of a residence in the Avenues area of town. Parson located the boat and recovered the stolen computer, and also found an additional computer in this boat which also may be stolen. He seized both computers as evidence.

Because the original theft is considered a “stale misdemeanor,” officers were not able to arrest and charge White with the computer theft at this time,

The case will be referred to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for charges on White relating to the theft and possession of the stolen computer.  White was later booked into the Lake County Jail on the five existing warrants.

The recovered computer will be returned to the business, Joseph said.

White was booked into the Lake County Jail on the warrants, and remained in custody on Tuesday with bail set at $10,000. She's tentatively set for a Wednesday court date.

Loren and Lynn Freeman, the owners of Kingdom Kids, told Lake County News that while the computer was valued at $863, the information on it is priceless.

“All of our business documents, forms, photos, and sales records were on the computer,” they said in an email message. “Having to recreate that information was going to be such a burden that we had thoughts of closing our store. It is extremely difficult to start a business in Clearlake and setbacks like this can be overwhelming.”

The Freemans said they are grateful to the Clearlake Police Department for its hard work and dedication to this case, as well as to the community for the support and information that led to White's arrest.

“We thank the Clearlake Police Department, our community, and our Lord for the blessings we have experienced this week,” they said.

Anyone with information on this incident may contact Officer Travis Parson at 707-994-8251, Extension 507.