San Rafael Man Chased After Taking Items from Costco

Matthias Putz, 53, of San Rafael, was stopped at Costco in Novato by employees Saturday afternoon around 2 p.m., who believed he was hiding items he didn't intend to pay for.

According to the Novato Police Department, Costco employees discovered Putz was concealing items within other less expensive items during the checkout process. 

At that point, said Sgt. Sasha D'Amico, according to employees, Putz ran suddenly from the store carrying a briefcase with other items inside it. An employee attempted to stop Putz at the exit, but was pushed aside.

Employees saw Putz ran across the parking lot with the briefcase before climbing the fence that borders Highway 101 south of Rowland Boulevard.

Novato Police officers responding to the scene found Putz fleeing down the shoulder of Highway 101, said D'Amico. The officers told him to stop, but Putz continued to run down the shoulder of the freeway.

Novato officers and an off-duty Marin County Sheriff's officer pursued Putz on foot down the northbound should Highway 101 before detaining him.

Approximately $600 worth of miscellaneous items were recovered, said D'Amico.

Putz was booked into the county jail on suspicion of robbery, burglary, possession of burglary tools and resisting arrest.