Shoplifting is on the rise in Denton as the Christmas season progresses, according to police reports.

Four people were arrested in connection with thefts from large stores in the Loop 288 area Tuesday.

In one instance, store employees watched a woman select clothing from racks and take five items into a dressing room. When she emerged, she carried only one item and placed it back on the rack.

Then she selected another armful of merchandise and did the same thing, according to a police report.

After she passed the checkout counters without attempting to pay for the merchandise, store security officers detained her.

They found she had sleepwear in her purse, a pair of panties in her boot and was wearing a bra she had not paid for, the report states.

At the jail, a search revealed she was wearing a second stolen bra.

Shoplifters at the other stores were detained past the checkout counters with jewelry, CDs, movies and silk ties.

Other reports

1000 block of Brittany Drive — A man reported Tuesday that someone took a number of tools from his garage Monday night.

He said he was “hanging out” in his garage with the door open and went inside about 8:30 p.m. He came back out about 10 p.m. and closed the door. He said he thought something looked wrong at that time but couldn’t figure out what it was.

The next morning he realized all his tools were missing.

300 block of Rocky Shore Drive, Little Elm area — A woman reported Tuesday that two men apparently stole her pontoon boat and trailer.

She said she drove up to her rental property about a month ago and saw two men measuring the boat. One of them told her he was looking for a boat like that one and asked to buy it. She said no.

She said her neighbor called her that day and reported that two men hooked up the boat and drove away with it and the trailer. Another neighbor reported that the trailer was parked on a vacant lot several blocks away but the boat was not there.

Deputies inquired at a nearby house. The man there said the two men cut up the boat for scrap.

The deputies towed the trailer as evidence, and an investigation is continuing.

1400 block of Little Anne Drive, Little Elm area — Deputies responding to a family violence call spoke to a husband and wife and then the elder of their three children.

The couple denied any violence, except that she accidentally threw hot wax on him. She said he came home drunk and she told him he shouldn’t drink so much and they argued.

The oldest child said the man pulled a gun out of his nightstand and threatened the woman with it.

The deputies found a Glock in the nightstand.

The child showed the deputies a bullet hole in the floor of his second-story room but said that occurred about a month ago during another fight.

Deputies arrested the man on assault charges.

Roundup

From 7 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday:

• Denton police responded to 231 service and officer-initiated calls, including reports of five thefts, one runaway, one vehicle burglary, one home burglary and one missing person.

• Denton County sheriff’s dispatchers handled 202 service and officer-initiated calls for the agencies they serve. Thirty-eight people were booked into county jail.

Deputies took reports of one fraud, two thefts, one aggravated assault and one burglary.

• Denton firefighters responded to 23 medical calls, one gas leak and two smoke investigations.

Lake Cities firefighters responded to two medical calls.

Sanger firefighters responded to four medical calls.

Aubrey firefighters responded to two medical calls and one alarm.

Argyle firefighters responded to three medical calls.

Pilot Point firefighters responded to one request to unlock a vehicle, one suicidal person, one structure fire, one gas leak and one illegal burn.

Oak Point firefighters responded to one smoke investigation.

Ponder firefighters responded to one structure fire.

DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com .

Denton County Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in these or other crimes. Callers will remain anonymous. Call 1-800-388-TIPS (8477). Reach the Denton police narcotics tip line at 940-565-5801.