Marin County sheriff's deputies arrested three men accused of stealing nearly $4,000 in merchandise from the Safeway in Strawberry after using license plate reader cameras to track the suspects across the Bay to San Francisco.

The theft occurred at approximately 6 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, at the grocery store in the unincorporated Strawberry community, which falls under the Sheriff's Office jurisdiction rather than the Mill Valley Police Department, Deputy Stephanie Ware said.

"The crime happened at about 6 a.m. Tuesday," Ware told the Marin Independent Journal, though July 8 fell on a Wednesday.

After the suspects fled in a vehicle, deputies ran the car's plate through the county's automated license plate reader system and determined it had traveled to San Francisco. Marin deputies coordinated with San Francisco police, who located the vehicle and detained three of the four suspects, according to Ware.

The three men, a 36-year-old San Rafael resident and two San Francisco residents, ages 43 and 34, were arrested on suspicion of burglary, conspiracy, and committing theft with prior convictions. The theft-with-priors charge indicates all three have previous theft-related criminal records.

All three were booked into the Marin County Jail with no bail amount set, meaning a judge had not yet determined bail as of their booking.

A fourth suspect remains at large. The Sheriff's Office has not released a description of that individual or indicated whether it is seeking public tips in the case.

The Sheriff's Office has not disclosed what type of merchandise was taken from the store or how the nearly $4,000 value was calculated.

No arraignment date has been announced for the three men in custody.

Residents who may have information can reach the Marin County Sheriff's Office at 415-479-2311.