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$30,000 Reward offered in security officer’s murder www.privateofficer.com
$30,000 Reward offered in security officer’s murder www.privateofficer.com
A reward to catch the killers of Carlos Alvarado now stands at $30,000.
Miami-Dade police on Friday announced the bounty in hopes of finding the two robbers who shot and killed the Dunbar Armored car security guard at Dadeland Mall Monday morning.
Alvarado was ambushed in a hail of gunfire inside the Express store about 11 a.m. Two men made off with his money bag, while a partner waited outside in the armored car.
The brazen morning robbery closed parts of the mall on Monday during the busy holiday season. Alvarado, 51, a father of two college students, had worked with Dunbar since 1999.
The reward was raised by Dunbar and ”concerned retailers,” according to Miami-Dade police.
The company had previously offered a $20,000 reward.
Another armored car, a Brinks truck, was robbed Wednesday at a West Miami-Dade Publix. The two guards were not seriously injured, and that robbery is not believed related to the Dadeland shooting.
Brinks is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the robbers.
Anyone with information on Alvarado’s case can call the Miami-Dade homicide bureau at 305-471-2400 or Miami-Dade CrimeStoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
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Shoplifter keeps stealing after multiple arrests www.privateofficer.com
Shoplifter keeps stealing even after multiple arrests http://www.privateofficer.com
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www.privateofficer.comSecurity officer shot during bank hold-up www.privateofficer.com
Security officer shot during bank hold-up http://www.privateofficer.com
Authorities are looking for two black men who robbed the Harris Bank, 2746 W. 5th Ave., at 11:11 a.m.
Investigators ask that anyone who recognizes the truck involved in the robbery contact the FBI’s GRIT office at (219) 885-1055.
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www.privateofficer.comMan arrested for lewd acts at mall www.privateofficer.com
Man arrested for lewd acts at mall http://www.privateofficer.com
Authorities say that they were told by an employee of Dillard’s department store that while she was sitting outside of Dillard’s, at around 5pm, having a smoke break on the third floor garage area near the food court she was approached by a man who exposed himself to her.
The man began to masturbate in front of her as he came closer and before leaving asked for a cigarette.
Responding officers found twenty one year old Luis Angel Maldonado Fuentes of Whitehall who was identified as the suspect in the incident and he was taken into custody and is held without bond at the county jail on charges of gross sexual imposition.
Police did not release the identity of the dillard’s employee but say that she was not hurt in the incident.
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Security officer injured by fleeing shoplifters www.privateofficer.com
Security officer injured by fleeing shoplifter http://www.privateofficer.com
The first occurred at 1:30 p.m. at the store, in the 300 block of South White Horse Pike, when three people — Mark Zadroga, 27; Donlee Wheeler, 28, and Meghan McCrane, 29, all of Atco — were stealing tools from the store’s outdoor retail section, police said.
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www.privateofficer.comSecurity officer involved in fatal shooting www.privateofficer.com
Security officer involved in fatal shooting http://www.privateofficer.com
Police say a bar customer “created a disturbance.” He was being disorderly and unruly according to witnesses and the security officer and he was asked to leave the premises.
Investigators say someone flagged down a passing police car on South Mendenhall around midnight, Tuesday, April 08, 2008, and told the officer that a man had been shot. Police say when they arrived on the scene, they found Andre McLaren, 38, lying dead in the parking lot of the business.
According to investigators, the security officer told police McLaren became unruly and was escorted outside of the bar. The guard says McLaren then started doing donuts in the parking lot and the security officer went to confront him and that is when he felt the McLaren was aiming for him so he fired his gun at the truck, hitting the driver several times.
The vehicle came to a stop resting up against a light pole.
Investigators are questioning the security officer. It is unknown of any charges will be filed.
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Wal-Mart rape suspect captured www.privateofficer.com
Wal-Mart rape suspect captured http://www.privateofficer.com
Police say that the victim had exited her car and was on her way to the store located at 8100 block of south John Young Parkway when she was approached by a man who was armed with a handgun.
The incident took place Tuesday about 6:15 a.m. as the victim, 35, stopped to pick up a few items.
Police say that the second count of kidnapping is because the victim’s 15-month-old daughter was inside the car during the attack.
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www.privateofficer.comMall security, customers battle to subdue robbery suspect www.privateofficer.com
Mall security, customers battle to subdue robbery suspect http://www.privateofficer.com
Police say that a Tampa man snatched an expensive Rolex watch from the Gause & Son Jewelers in the mall and then tried to fight his way out of the store.
In the mall at 3100 College Road, saleswoman Maria Kirkland told Officer Warren Brown that a man entered the store at around 3pm and asked to look at a Rolex. After looking at several watches, he walked to the other side of the store, she said. Thinking that was odd, Kirkland notified Rodney Gause, who stood at the entrance.The store also called the mall security office for assistance and security officer Terry Geromel responded to the store.
The man allegedly asked Kirkland if he could see the Oyster Perpetual Submariner Rolex watch, worth $25,250. When she showed him the timepiece, he grabbed it and ran.
Employees and mall security subdued Yorge Alvarez, 23, until police arrived, according to an Ocala police report.
Geromel caught him, and the suspect punched the security officer twice in the face, according to the police report. Employees and a shopper helped the security officer detain Alvaraz until police arrived and got him into custody.
Alvarez is charged with strong-arm robbery and battery on a security officer.
Geromel, whose face was swollen and scratched, refused medical attention.
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www.privateofficer.comMall security aids in capture of counterfeiter www.privateofficer.com
Mall security aids in capture of counterfeiter http://www.privateofficer.com
Daniele Francesco Nucci, 26, of the 100 block of Jordan Lane, is accused of trying to pay for a drink at the Chick-Fil-A counter using the fake bill about 7 p.m. Friday, but the employees immediately turned him away and called mall security and the police.
While they looked for him, an employee of the nearby Borders Books and Music store approached Sgt. John Gilmer, a county police officer who was moonlighting at the mall, to report a similar transaction within the past 30 seconds.
Gilmer and mall security officers began to search the mall and immediately found Nucci, who had on him 15 counterfeit $50 bills in addition to $240 in legitimate currency. Nucci attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended behind a business in the 100 block of Defense Highway.
After the foot pursuit, he complained of chest pains and problems breathing. Nucci was transported to Anne Arundel Medical Center.
He was charged with two counts of knowingly passing counterfeit documents, possessing counterfeit currency and resisting arrest.
The Secret Service Baltimore field office was contacted. It is unknown whether Nucci will also face federal charges.
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8 Teens arrested for attack on girl www.privateofficer.com
8 Teens charged with brutal attack on girl http://www.privateofficer.com
According to the victim, the girls bragged that they planned to post the beating on YouTube and MySpace.
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www.privateofficer.comPolice charge man with robbery after theft of baby formula www.privateofficer.com
Man arrested for robbery in theft of baby formula http://www.privateofficer.com
Police arrested Casey Jones, 31, of Madbury on Friday at the Merrimack County jail where he is being held on the drug possession charge.
On the morning of April 1, two men attempted to shoplift 18 cans of Nestle’s baby formula worth $167. Employees tried to stop them from leaving the store with the carriage of baby formula and hypodermic needles fell out of the coat of one of the men who put up a struggle.
The men fled in a gray Mazda.
Evidence led investigators to a 5 Heartwood Lane apartment where, the next day, they arrested Megan Wilcox, 24, of Concord, on warrants for forgery and two counts of issuing bad checks issued, respectively, by Bridegwater and Moultonborough police. Also arrested was Daryl Clough, 35, also of Concord, for violating parole.
Later that day, police found the Mazda parked at 5 Heartland Lane with Jones and Jeffery Bibbo, 35, of Manchester, inside it. Each was charged with possessing heroin. Bibbo also was arrested for violating bail conditions on a prior shoplifting charge.
Police continue to investigate whether the incident is related to other baby formula thefts in the Concord area.
None of the people arrested have small children, police said. Baby formula is a popular item to shoplift to resell for cash to buy, among other things, illegal drugs, police said.
Jones’ bail is $5,000 cash. He will be arraigned in Concord District Court later this morning.
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www.privateofficer.comPolice charge teens with mall arsons www.privateofficer.com
Police charge teens with mall arsons http://www.privateofficer.com
Police, fire and EMS personnel were summoned and quickly responded to the Walden Galleria fearing for the worse.
It was a wild night for police and fire fighters at the Walden Galleria in Cheektowaga. There were 3 fires, one at J.C. Penney, one at the food court, and one at Best Buy. Investigators believe all 3 are connected and all are arson. “These fires were just set by some paper products and some matches. We’re in the process of investigating those fires and we do have some surveillance video taken of possible suspects.” said Cheektowaga Police Captain John Glascott
Police released several pictures from that surveillance video of the 2 persons of interest and police say that tips did come into their office and they have been able to make two arrests in the arsons.The two teens, ages 16 and 17, were under arrested this morning however police have not released their names or photos yet but said that they will have a press conference later in the day. .There was no major damage, and two of the fires burned themselves out. One fire was extinguished by mall security, but 2 stores were evacuated. “We closed down J.C. Penney and Best Buy for a short period of time until we were sure they were safe.” said Glascott
We could have a real disaster here said a police officer. Things could have gone bad fast and people could have been hurt or worse. Thank god none of that happened and hopefully these teens will be punished and understand the severity of what they did he said.
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Shoplifter nabbed at K-Mart www.privateofficer.com
Charleston WV April 8 2008
An Elkview woman was charged with stealing several hundred dollars worth of merchandise from Kmart.
State police were called to Kmart at the Crossings Mall Tuesday afternoon after a security officer had taken custody of a woman who tried to steal several items, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha Magistrate Court.
The security guard told police Tessa Leigh Shafer, 25, of Hurricane Road, was seen placing items in her coat pockets without paying for them, the complaint said.
As the security guard watched Shafer, he saw her attempt to leave the store with a shopping cart full of merchandise, the complaint said.
The total value of the merchandise was $643.96, the complaint said.
Shafer told police she was stealing items for her and her baby, the complaint said.
She is charged with shoplifting and giving false information to police.
Former FEMA worker pleads guilty to identity theft www.privateofficer.com
Former FEMA worker pleads guilty to identity theft http://www.privateofficer.com
Some say that justice was not served and others agree in anger and frustration. They’re talking about the guilty plea in Federal court in Washington DC of Robert Davis, 44 of southeast D.C. who admitted in court that while employed by FEMA, he took advantage of at least 200 people including at least 30 who were Hurricane Karina victims. He plead guilty of stealing their identity, fraudulently opening credit accounts in their names and charging at least $156,000.
Davis used the identities of at least 74 victims to open accounts with the Home Shopping Network, QVC and others. Some items he received included diamond jewelry, designer watches and digital cameras.
The U.S. Attorney says Davis stole the identities while working as a FEMA human services specialist. About 30 of his scams involved victims of natural disasters.
Davis also worked as a clerk for various mortgage companies in the District.
After obtaining personal information, Davis called retailers and opened credit accounts in their names..
For all of his ill deeds and broken lives and heartaches that he left behind him, Davis agreed to a plea deal which found him guilty of one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of wire fraud. He could have easily been charged with at least 200 counts of each and faced life in prison. Instead, he received a bargin on Friday from the prosecutor’s office and now only faces four to seven years whn he’s sentenced in June.
With good behavior and early release, that amounts to less than two years behind bars.
The U.S. Attorney’s office said in their press release that is was a good sentence for Davis’s crimes and a win for the victims. It sounds like it was good for their office and a win for them.
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My baby’s a shoplifter! www.privateofficer.com
My baby’s a shoplifter! http://www.privateofficer.com
Police say that they were called to a shop after clerks found that a man had taken some items. When police got their, the shoplifter, an East Haven man put the blame on his baby instead of just admitting his crime.
When officers determined the child wasn’t strong enough to lift the stolen merchandise, Louis Fallon, 29, then allegedly urged them to arrest his wife, who was also in the store at the time.
Fallon, of Pershing Avenue, later said he is on parole and didn’t want to get in more trouble, according to police.
Fallon, who is a convicted felon, was sentenced to jail in 2006 for the sale of narcotics, third-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment, according to state Judicial Branch records. His prior convictions, dating back to 2001, include larceny, failure to appear in court, criminal impersonation, breach of peace and interfering with an officer.
He was charged Wednesday with risk of injury to a minor and sixth-degree larceny for allegedly stealing a wooden box worth $32.95 at Made By Hand, a shop in the Westfield Connecticut Post mall that sells world handicrafts and wooden carvings.
Officer Vaughan Dumas, the police spokesman, said the box was found in a bag attached to the rear of the 23-month-old child’s stroller.
Fallon allegedly told police the child swiped it without his knowledge. But police
said that it would have been physically impossible for the child to reach the bag or lift the box.
Fallon’s is being held on a $1000 bond and he had his case continued to April 25 during his Thursday arraignment in Milford Superior Court.
But his trouble doesn’t end there. Police also notified his parole officer and Fallon’s parole could be revoked and he could be sent back to state prison to serve out the rest of his previous sentence.
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www.privateofficer.comCasino security prevents suicide www.privateofficer.com
Casino security prevents suicide http://www.privateofficer.com
Security officers at the Philadelphia Park Casino responded to a possible suicide at their facility on Thursday and found Robert Harvey Sturman who drunk some cleaning solutions in an attempt to end his life.
Sturman, 54, a self-proclaimed compulsive gambler whose last known address was Northampton, allegedly chugged a partial bottle of an all-purpose, heavy duty, antibacterial cleaner while in the casino.
Security officers summoned medical assistance and notified the state police and as troopers questioned Sturman they learned he was wanted by the Camden County New Jersey’s Prosecutor’s Office for skipping his trial on charges of theft and writing bad checks, according to court records.
Sturman received medical care and was then taken into custody on the outstanding warrants and transported to the county jail.
Basically, I’m just a compulsive gambler and I just need some kind of mental health help,” Sturman whispered in court between gulps of air.
However, District Judge Jan Vislosky told Sturman he would be going to county prison on $100,000 bail and that New Jersey authorities would likely pick him up within 48 hours.
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www.privateofficer.comTSA officer aids ill child www.privateofficer.com
TSA officer aids ill child http://www.privateofficer.com
Chris Harrington’s, the TSA officer, stopped the family before they could got on the plane and called for medical assistance.Medics on scene determined that the infant was suffering from a serious seizure and had a temperature of 103 degrees. The baby was rushed to the hospital just in time.Harrgington said that he was just doing his job and that tries to assist passangars in any way that he can. The family thinks something different and said his quick response probably prevented a much more serious situation.
The child was released from the hospital and the family has since continued their trip.
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www.privateofficer.comArmed robber leaves behind key clue www.privateofficer.com
Armed robber leaves behind key clue http://www.privateofficer.com
Police say that they responded to an armed robbery at the Golden Convenience store after the clerk dialed 911 and reported that she had been robbed.
Arriving officers were told that a black male had been in the store and waited for all of the customers to leave and then pulled a knife on her and told her that it was a robbery. Even though the thief was long gone, police still had a strong lead in the case.
Before pulling a knife, authorities say 28-year-old Demetrius Robinson filled out a job application, apparently leaving his real name. Investigators say he was trying to kill time until the customers were gone and in doing so used his real information.
Robinson managed to evade immediate capture by using his uncle’s phone number and a phony address. But police say they got an anonymous tip and arrested him yesterday morning.
Authorities say Robinson is also a suspect in several other armed robberies.
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Is the internet fueling shoplifting? www.privateofficer.com
Is the internet fueling shoplifting http://www.privateofficer.com
Some argue that before the internet, Ebay and other popular internet auctions sites, personal stores and Craiglists, shoplifters had a much harder time diposing of their stolen wares.
They would either have to sell them to friends and realitives or hock them at a flea market, Chris Hughs, Senior Investigator for a large retailer said during a recent interview. But now, the internet has certainly changed all of that he continued. With just a few clicks of the mouse and an ad post here and an ad post there and you’ve got access to millions of buyers and unfortunately they’re not too dicriminating. Meaning that they’ll buy because of price and not be worried about where the products came from or how the seller got them Hughs added.
A substantial increase is reported as thieves sell hot items online according to the National Association of Private Officers, Loss Prevention division.
Merchandise is flying off store shelves, but a good chunk of it is not being sold by the clerks. It’s the shoplifters who are making the sale. The growing number of store thieves are cashing in by turning to cyberspace and reselling the booty in online auctions. “We’re seeing across the country a significant increase in organized retail crime,” said Michael Krueger, a corporate spokesman for Target, referring to the practice of coordinated groups of thieves boosting merchandise and selling it via online auction sites. “It’s lucrative, anonymous, stealable,” said Krueger, adding that Target, which has a store in Charleston, will prosecute criminals and seek civil penalties. “It’s attracting criminal elements that would normally not have been involved in shoplifting.”
But retailers are fighting back and being more aggressive than ever said Hughs. Many retailers use to let shoplifters who took merchandise under twenty five or fifty dollars go without prosecution in hopes that they learned a lesson while the retailer maintained a customer. But not anymore. Stores are prosecuting teenagers, mothers with children, grandmas and the pros all the same Hughs said.
They have resorted to fighting fire with fire and besides the criminal prosecution, many also seek civil damages through their attorneys. Soon after being caught, the shoplifter often gets demands for civil restitution as much as three times the value of the merchandise taken plus attorney fees or they face being sued and having a judgement placed against them.
Under state law, shoplifters can be held liable for the retail cost, up to $1,500, of any item which is damaged or can’t be recovered. Even if the goods are returned whole, merchants can seek penalties of five times the amount of the purloined item, up to $500. Some retailers try to collect the penalties themselves, while others farm out the work to collection firms, according to the National Retail Federation.
With the slowing economy, merchants have apparently become more diligent in guarding their wares, Hughs said. Retailers budgeted about 0.43 percent of their total retail sales, or just over $11 billion, on security and loss-prevention, the University of Florida survey said. That figure actually represented a decrease from prior years.
But enforcement of shoplifting laws, many of which are felonies is increasing and being taken more serious by many law enforcement agencies including the FBI. In recent years with the increase of organized shoplifting gangs and internet sales of stolen merchanside, law enforcement have applied federal statues against these shoplifters. Instead of facing simple theft charges, many now face grand larceny, burglary and robbery charges when force is used in their escape from a loss prevention agent. When stolen merchandise is sold or transported across state lines federal charges are now applied and the culprits face much stiffer penalities. Racketeering charges, once reserved for “the mob” and criminal enterprise statues have also been added to against numerous organized “shoplifting enterprises” whose only job is to steal from retails and dispose of the goods usually via the internet.
While police admit that they do not have the manpower to actively prowl the internet for those who might be selling stolen goods, they do take tips and leads from other agencies and loss prevention agents more seriously and will begin an investigation and follow it through to arrest and trial.
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Public questions use of force during shoplifter arrest www.privateofficer.com
Public questions police use of force during shoplifter arrest http://www.privateofficer.com
Police were notified by Sears loss prevention team that they were attempting to detain a shoplifter, later identified as Jose Molina-Montalvo and that he was struggling with them.
Waterford Chief of Police Murray Pendleton on Thursday defended tactics used by police in the arrest.
Based on Lt. Brett Mahoney’s report of the incident, Mahoney arrived on the scene, Pendleton said, the man had smashed the case and started to run. Pendleton said Mahoney chased the man through several departments of the store..
At that point, Pendleton said, Officer John Bunce arrived on the scene and attempted to use a Taser to subdue the man. Pendleton said the Taser’s batteries were not properly charged and the gun misfired. At that point, officers on the scene reported that the man refused to be handcuffed and continued resisting officers. In their report, Pendleton said, the officers said that because the Taser didn’t work, they then used their “closed fists” to bring the man under control.
Witnesses to the arrest notified the local newspaper of the incident saying that in their opinion the police overdid it and used too much force to subdue the man and the newspaper contacted Molina-Montalvo, at his home, and he admitted to stealing a digital camera from the store but said Waterford police went too far in the arrest, shoving him to the ground outside the store and repeatedly kicking and punching him in the head and chest.
Molina-Montalvo said that as he walked out of the store and headed for the exit he noticed a police officer. He tried to retreat and ran for a few feet but realized he had nowhere to go, he said.
“I saw a cop point something yellow at me,” Molina-Montalvo said. “I think it was a Taser. I tried to put my arms up and head for the ground. That’s when one cop pushed me to the ground. I think he even used the Taser. I don’t know how we ended up outside, but one cop is on me, one kicked me and someone kept punching my face.”
“I know what I did was wrong,” said Molina-Montalvo, but “the way they handled the situation was wrong. They were beating me up like I really did something bad.” Montalvo sustained minor scratches and bruising during his arrest.
Pendleton said the officers acted appropriately in a situation in which a man was actively resisting arrest.
The local newspaper The Day, said about a dozen people witnessed the incident, some taking photos with their cell phones.
We did however talk with Anthony Bianco, a regional loss prevention manager for a major retailer and a retired police officer from Florida. We asked him in his current or previous duties if force was ever necessary in the arrest of a suspect and just how much force should be used. He pointed out that the officers were met with a fleeing suspect who after being physically detained still put up a fight to the point that the officers tried to deploy their taser gun which would have been reasonaable force under the circumstances. When the Taser malfunctioned, the officers continued to use force by punching Montalvo to bring him into submission so that he could be handcuffed. To the public, seeing four or five cops piled up on one person especially using physical force may have seemed a bit too much but in reality it was the level of force required to bring the suspect under control. If he had complied with their demands to be handcuffed the shoppers would have just seen a routine arrest and officers escorting a prisoner out the door to their waiting police cruisers.
The public needs to realize that it’s not always as bad as it looks Bianco said. What if he had gotten away from the officers and pulled a knife or a gun and taken one of the shoppers hostage or worse, shot them.
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