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Officers saw two suspicious people in the downtown area, later identified as Joel Toro-Pagan, 25, of Manhattan, and Michael Gomez, 32, of Corona, Westport Police said.
"Surveillance of the area was conducted and as the two individuals walked into the parking lot, one of the subjects was observed to be carrying a large amount of clothing concealed under his jacket," Capt. Sam Arciola said in a press release. The men then got into a car and left, he said.
Officers conducted a motor vehicle stop and saw, in plain view inside the car, the pants and the security sensors that had been cut from the clothing, police said.
In total, the two men stole about $435 worth of merchandise, police said.
Also in the vehicle, officers found a pair of wire cutters and a magnet that is used to bypass the security tags, police said.
Each suspect was charged with sixth-degree larceny, sixth-degree conspiracy to commit larceny and possession of a shoplifting device.
Gomez and Toro-Pagan posted $2,500 bonds and are due to appear in court on March 23.
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