By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Salisbury police charged an Asheboro man and woman with stealing over $1,100 worth of Michael Kors designer handbags from Marshalls and fleeing with a witness who spotted them close behind.

Police charged Phillip Andrew Ridley, 48, of the 600 block of Dumbar Street, Asheboro, with felony preventing activation of an anti-shoplifting device, felony larceny, two counts of misdemeanor probation violation and felony larceny. Liza Yaneth Garcia, 32, of the 1000 block of Breeze Hill Road, Asheboro, was charged with felony preventing activation of an anti-shoplifting device and felony larceny.

Officials said they received information from someone who said he was following the suspects after they got into a Hyundai Elantra. The driver was driving erratically and ran several red lights.

The people in the vehicle threw beer cans at the witness, who was following the Hyundai, police said.

The driver traveled onto Interstate 85, got off near Bojangles’ and eventually stopped, got out of the car and ran. Police said the driver jumped over a guardrail and took off. Three other people were still in the vehicle.

Police believe Ridley took the purses and Garcia was the lookout. Officials said 12 purses valued at $1,186 were taken. All of the bags were found in the car.

Police said cardboard was used to cover the vehicle’s license plate.

Ridley remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $20,000 secured bond. Garcia remains there under a $5,000 secured bond.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.