Video shows woman accused of stealing from Sephora and Lululemon in Irvine hiding in the trunk of a Tesla

IRVINE, Calif. (KABC) — Police in Irvine played a little peek-a-boo with a shoplifting suspect this week.

Emely Yanagida, 35, is accused of stealing from the Sephora and Lululemon stores in the Irvine Spectrum Center on Wednesday. When a security guard tried to stop her, she continued walking and entered the parking lot, according to police.

“A good citizen told officers he observed the suspect getting into a white Tesla,” police said in a statement.

But Yanagida didn't just “get into” the Tesla—she also climbed into the trunk! A video of the bizarre encounter was posted on the Irvine Police Department's Instagram.

In the video, an officer can be heard asking Yanagida: “Why are you hiding in your trunk?”

She replied, “Because I’m scared.”

“From what?” asks the officer.

“Because you were just after me,” she replied.

“For what?”

“Because you accused me of taking something.”

The officer then began searching her purse and pulled out several items of clothing and what looked like cosmetic products.

“What about this Lululemon stuff?” the officer asked.

“That’s how I got in.”

Police said $600 worth of Sephora items and $250 worth of Lululemon items were found. Yanagida was arrested for possession of burglary tools, resisting arrest and shoplifting.