AUBURN — A Baldwinville man was arrested Thursday after allegedly shoplifting from Macy’s at the Auburn Mall and fleeing on foot, according to the Auburn Police Department.
Officers responded to the mall on May 15, 2025, following a report of a theft involving a male suspect who fled the store on foot with what was believed to be a significant amount of stolen property.
While searching the area, police said a witness reported seeing a man emerge from a bush and run, prompting officers to focus their search in that direction. With assistance from the Massachusetts State Police, authorities established a perimeter and deployed both a drone and a K9 unit.
Police said K9 Biza tracked the suspect through a marsh and wooded area, ultimately locating him hiding behind a residence underneath an old hunting blind.
The man, identified as Jeffrey Bates, 35, of Baldwinville, was taken into custody without incident. According to police, Bates was transported to the Auburn Police Department, booked, and later arraigned on the following charges:
- Shoplifting over $250
- Disorderly Conduct
- Resisting Arrest
- Disturbing the Peace
The court set bail at $500.
