Montgomery County Police have arrested a 27-year-old man accused of stealing more than $16,000 in merchandise from a store at Wheaton Mall over the past several months.
According to investigators, Carlos Alejandro Ayala, who has no fixed address, entered the mall on June 24 and allegedly took a large quantity of merchandise before running out. Officers assigned to the 4th District Central Business District Team, who were conducting proactive foot patrols inside the mall, spotted Ayala fleeing with a backpack containing the stolen items and chased him to the 11200 block of Grandview Avenue, where he was taken into custody.
Police said Ayala discarded the backpack during the pursuit, but officers recovered all of the stolen merchandise and returned it to the store. Detectives also determined Ayala had allegedly stolen more than $16,000 in merchandise from the same store since February 2026 and had two outstanding felony warrants for theft under $25,000. He was charged with theft, obstructing and hindering, and related offenses, and is being held without bond.
