By Jim Clark

A police officer on routine duty near Assembly Row last week was informed that a loss prevention agent from Saks Off 5th on Canal St. had phoned in a report of a woman concealing a pair of shoes in her bag and leaving the store without paying, accompanied by two female companions.

The officer located the three women, based on the store’s description, and stopped them for questioning, after they had reportedly made an unsuccessful attempt at running away.

The women were then asked to place their handbags on the ground in front of them.

The bag belonging to Daqnya Johnson, of Jamaica Plain, was reportedly found to contain three pairs of shoes, valued at a total of $330.91.

The handbag carried by Amy Ubiera, of Dorchester, was similarly found to contain three pairs of shoes, with a combined total value of $1355.91.

The third female, Desaray Grant, of Roxbury, had a bulge in the front of her coat, according to reports. She was asked to unzip her coat, whereupon a pair of shoes valued at $323.75 was found to be concealed under her arms.

Price tags were still on the shoes and the suspects offered no receipts for the merchandise, police said.

The three women were each placed under arrest and charged with conspiracy and larceny over $250.

Ubiera was additionally booked on warrant charges of motor vehicle lights violation and operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license.