Montgomery County Sheriff's deputies arrested two Houston residents outside a Ross store in The Woodlands with more than $3,000 in stolen merchandise.

Deputies spotted Jose Martinez, 50, and Jackelin Mendez, 39, leaving the Ross at Pinecroft Center on Lake Woodlands Drive on Thursday, Oct. 1, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. The pair were already known retail theft suspects.

After watching Martinez and Mendez get into a vehicle and drive away, deputies pulled them over in the 26000 block of Interstate 45 South near Nursery Road.

A search of the vehicle turned up a large quantity of stolen merchandise along with specialized instruments used to remove anti-theft security devices. The recovered goods, valued at more than $3,000, will be returned to the retailer.

Charges and ICE holds

Both suspects were booked into the Montgomery County Jail. They each face a charge of possession of a criminal instrument to commit retail theft, with potential additional charges of organized retail theft.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holds have been placed on both Martinez and Mendez.

Linked to thefts in other counties

The Sheriff's Office said Martinez and Mendez are suspects in multiple retail thefts in other jurisdictions. Additional out-of-county charges are expected.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Residents who have information about retail theft activity in The Woodlands can contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office through mctxsheriff.org.