JCPenney employees arrested in thefts from store

Two JCPenney employees were arrested on warrants for grand theft after stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise from the store, Idaho Falls police said Wednesday.

Laura Benites, 28, and Rodrigo Ramirez, 27, both of Idaho Falls, turned themselves in last week.

JCPenney management told police in November that Benites and Ramirez had been stealing merchandise from the store since September. The estimated value of the stolen items was nearly $17,000.