Jewel Thief Hits Mall Twice www.privateofficer.com

Jewel Thief Hits Mall Twice http://www.privateofficer.com

Kahala Hi. Nov. 23 2007
Prosecutors are expected to seek an extended sentence for the second time in three months against a career criminal charged yesterday with the alleged theft of more than $22,000 of jewelry from Macy’s at Kahala Mall.
Dean Mitchell Gouveia, 48, of Waimanalo, already is facing a five-year sentence for felony second-degree and misdemeanor third-degree theft stemming from an October conviction unrelated to the Kahala Mall theft.
A judge in October denied an attempt by prosecutors to empanel a jury to hear motions on extended sentencing for Gouveia as a repeat offender. The judge deferred sentencing for Gouveia to allow him to have surgery for a medical condition.
Gouveia, who has 66 prior convictions dating to July 1981 and 153 arrests, was to have been sentenced yesterday for the October convictions.
Instead, he was charged by information with first-degree theft for allegedly stealing a display case containing 72 to 80 pieces of bridge diamond jewelry valued at $150 to $390 each from Macy’s fine jewelry store at Kahala Mall on Nov. 13.
Charging by information bypasses the probable-cause charging process, which requires an initial appearance and preliminary hearing at District Court. Gouveia’s bail was set at $20,000. He will be arraigned at Circuit Court on a date to be determined.
Gouveia can be released if he makes bail; otherwise he will be sent to O’ahu Community Correctional Center.
Gouveia was identified as a suspect in the Macy’s case by surveillance videotapes, police said.
The tapes showed Gouveia entering Macy’s and distracting a salesperson, who was looking for a jewelry piece for him in the stockroom, according to a court affidavit. He allegedly cut the cable on a display case with a utility tool and walked out of the store while the salesperson was still away.
The videotapes appear to show Gouveia placing the jewelry case in the bed of his pickup truck, parked near the entry/exit glass doors to the store, and driving off.
The surveillance tapes provided police with the license plate number of the truck, which is registered to Gouveia.
None of the stolen jewelry has been recovered, police said.

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Store employee busted for theft with friend www.privateofficer.com

Store employee busted for stealing with friend http://www.privateofficer.com

Tempe Az. Nov,23 2007 A Wal-Mart employee was arrested Tuesday after police said she stole two gift cards from the store, valued at $1,000 each, and used them at other Wal-Mart stores around the Valley.The store manager of the Wal-Mart in the 6100 block of East Southern Avenue told police that on Saturday the cash register that 21-year-old Veronica Villa was assigned to was $3,100 short. According to a police report, Villa rang up several items to an unknown male customer along with two $1,000 gift cards.

The manager told police one of the gift cards was used at a Wal-Mart in Tempe, and the security video shows Villa shopping with the same unknown man who she sold items to on Saturday. The video also shows Villa paying for $898 worth of merchandise with the gift card, police said.Villa also went to two other Wal-Mart stores in the Valley and purchased items there, according to the report. When contacted by police, Villa said it was her boyfriend, Jorge Gutierrez, who came to purchase items from her. Villa said during the transaction, she decided to purchase two $1,000 gift cards for herself. Villa said Gutierrez gave her $30 to $50 for all of the items and said she believed Gutierrez when he told her she would not get in trouble.Villa told police she went to the other Wal-Mart store to buy household items and a birthday present for Gutierrez.

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