Headphone thief caught at West Towne Mall www.privateofficer.com

 

Milwaukee WI Nov 16 2012 A Sun Prairie man who allegedly stole more than $4,500 worth of headphones from a store at West Towne Mall was arrested by police after being detained by a security guard.

Davonte Marshall, 20, was tentatively charged with retail theft, bail jumping and habitual criminality (repeater) and on an outstanding warrant, the Madison Police Department said in a news release.

Marshall was stopped by the security guard Friday afternoon at about 3:15 p.m. at the Apple Store at West Towne Mall.

“He was trying to get away with two sets of headphones, one valued at $699.90 and the other at $399.95,” said police spokesman Joel DeSpain in the release.

Police were told by the guard that Marshall allegedly had been taking headphones from the store, one or two pair at a time, since July.

“The suspect admitted as much, saying he took nine or 10 pairs of headphones,” DeSpain said. “He said he was reselling them for cash, charging about $80 each.”

source-madison.com

Two suspects stole more than $100,000 in electronics from Walmart stores arrested www.privateofficer.com

Portage IN Nov 11 2012 Two suspects who allegedly stole more than $100,000 in electronics from Walmart stores in the Midwest were arrested in Portage on Tuesday.

Jennifer Wolfe, 27, and Jeremiah Sisk, 30, were taken into custody on felony theft charges, possession of marijuana and possession of stolen property, according to a news release from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

The two allegedly had stolen electronics from the Portage Walmart Tuesday morning by cutting the security tags off the items and leaving the store without paying.

Store employees saw the theft and got the suspects’ license number, with officers finding out the plates were stolen in Illinois.

Shortly afterward, a detective saw the vehicle and made a high-risk traffic stop, Sheriff Dennis Richards said in the news release.

Wolfe and Sisk are believed to have committed 100 thefts from Walmart stores in Wisconsin,Illinois, Indiana and Iowa.

“Detectives from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Portage Police Department are working with dozens of other law enforcement agencies around the Midwest in hopes of clearing many of these thefts,” Richards said.

Richards said both suspects are admitted heroin addicts and were stealing electronics to support their habits.

They originally are from Colorado but were currently living in Madison.

source-host.madison.com

Organized shoplifting team arrested in Texas www.privateofficer.com

 

COMMERCE TX Oct 26 2012— Four persons were apprehended and have been charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity following a late afternoon theft.

On Thursday, October 18, 2012, the Commerce Police Department was alerted of a shoplifting in progress by multiple persons at a local retail store in the 2200 of Live Oak.

According to loss prevention personnel at the store, multiple persons were indiscriminately grabbing clothes off the rack and items off of displays and throwing them into a shopping cart.  28-year-old, Paris resident, Semaj Ramal Jackson, 20-year -old Mississippi resident, Cartrell Alberta, 48-year-old Paris resident Lilly Tyson Gentry and 31-year-old Paris resident, Michelle Tyson were all taken into custody following an investigation that showed that all four persons entered the store with the intent to shoplift property.  Mr. Jackson and Ms. Smith were both captured with property still on their person and custom jewelry was recovered from the car that they had all come in.

All persons were transported to the Commerce Police Department where they were booked in for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity / Theft Over $50 and Less than $500.  Because they acted as a group, the charge  is enhanced to a Misdemeanor A.   All four persons were transported to the Hunt County Jail and Smith, Tyson and Gentry have posted a $5000 bond.  Mr. Jackson is still being held at the Hunt County Jail pending a $5000 bond.

Organized New Jersey shoplifting team pleads guilty www.privateofficer.com

Jersey City NJ Oct 26 2012 A man pleaded guilty Tuesday to a second-degree shoplifting charge after leading an organized retail theft ring that targeted Home Depot stores in New Jersey.

Julio Arriola Suarez, 49, of West New York, a.k.a Jimmy R. Alcivar, admitted to committing thefts totaling more than $1,000 in merchandise as part of a retail theft enterprise, according to the NJ Office of the Attorney General.

Suarez was arrested on April 3 in Jersey City. An investigation determined that he led a ring that committed thefts at multiple Home Depot stores per day, stealing hundreds of dollars in merchandise by “under-ringing” it through self-checkout areas.

The state will recommend that Suarez be sentenced to four years in state prison. The sentencing for Suarez is scheduled for Dec. 14.

Three additional members of the ring pleaded guilty earlier this month and face jail time.

David Pulgarin, 29, formerly of Union City and West New York, and Javier Duque Piza, 56, formerly of West New York, pleaded guilty on Oct. 9. Julio Duque Barahona, 30, recently in prison in New York state, pleaded guilty on Oct. 10.

Pulgarin is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 2, and Piza and Barahona, on Nov. 16. The state will recommend that each man be sentenced to 364 days in the county jail and a period of probation.

A fifth man, Nicholas Arriola Cortez, 49, formerly of Union City, was charged in April in the investigation. He remains a fugitive and is being sought on a warrant.

The ring members were based in Hudson County. Pulgarin is a naturalized U.S. citizen, but the others are not U.S. citizens. Suarez, Piza and Barahona could potentially face deportation on the charges.

The theft ring targeted approximately 70 Home Depot stores, primarily in New Jersey, but also in New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

Shoplifters gathered details on Walmart security in Florida

 

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY FLA Oct 25 2012— Deputies arrested two shoplifters at Walmart who had been gathering details on security for other locations throughout Florida.

William Thayne, 41, of Boca Raton and Jose Santiago Ramirez, 44, of Weston were charged Friday with felony shoplifting in concert with others. Ramirez posted $5,000 bail at the Indian River County Jail, while Thayne remained there Monday in lieu of the same amount.

Loss prevention staff at the Walmart in the 5500 block of 20th Street noticed Thayne hiding software in his pants about 3 p.m. Friday, the affidavits state. Indian River County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived as Thayne stepped into a black Cadillac driven by Ramirez. A deputy had the Cadillac stop before it left the parking lot, the affidavits state.

Deputies said they recovered three software items valued at $400. They found notes in the car with security details about several Walmarts in Florida, the affidavits state.

Ramirez has sold more than 200 items on eBay in the past few months, according to his affidavit. The Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate Ramirez in connection with other thefts.

soure-tcpalm

Okla. women charged with theft from Premium Outlet Mall www.privateofficer.com

Osage Beach MO Oct 21 2012 Officers responded to Brooks Brothers located at the Osage Beach Premium Outlet Mall in reference two black females who were caught stealing merchandise Sunday afternoon. The women had stolen merchandise, returning a short time later stating that they wanted to return the items for store Gift Cards.

While officers were at the Brooks Brothers Store, they learned that the women had also been at the Tommy Hilfiger Store and received store Gift Cards and merchandise exchange. Officers searched the area and located the women, one as she was entering another store. At the time of apprehension, gift cards, and merchandise from other stores, within the mall, were located.

Shanita Butler, 30, from Tulsa, Okla., and Julie R. Ware-Berry, 43, of Broken Arrow, Okla., were taken into custody and transported to the Camden County Jail.

Butler and Berry provided officers with false identification at the point of initial contact.

Butler was charged with felony stealing over $500 and misdemeanor stealing under $500. Her bond was set at $1,000 cash and $10,000 surety. Ware-Berry was charged with stealing, 3rd offense and forgery. Her bond was set at $750 cash and $7,500 surety.

Serial shoplifter given extended prison sentence www.privateofficer.com

Shawnee County KS. Oct 18 2012 Calling Mark Lucas a “serial shoplifter,” a Shawnee County District Court judge Friday added another 20 months to a series of prison terms that will keep the Topekan behind bars until he is in his 50s.

Assistant district attorney Dan Dunbar had urged Chief Judge Nancy Parrish to sentence Lucas, 43, to an additional 11 years and four months for his latest felony convictions tied to stealing from the Walmart store in south Topeka.

Defense attorney David McDonald told the judge his client’s new sentence should be concurrent to two earlier cases, which totaled 11 years and six months.

In the end, Lucas got an extra 20 months in prison. All totaled, Lucas has three sentences in three shoplifting cases that tally 13 years and two months in prison.

Lucas was prosecuted under statutes involving felony aggravated burglary — based on his returning to the Walmart store at 1301 S.W. 37th after being permanently banned — and one count of felony theft with two prior convictions of misdemeanor shopliftings, which makes a third shoplifting a felony theft.

In Friday’s case, Lucas was convicted of shoplifting a DVD player and a wireless router. Lucas made guilty and no contest pleas to resolve 19 earlier theft cases.

An aggravated burglary is a person felony, boosting him into a higher sentencing category with longer prison terms.

Referring to the case he was sentenced to on Friday and more than a dozen others, all shopliftings, Parrish said it was tragic what Lucas had put his wife and children through.

Over and over, Lucas has admitted the thefts were done to get money for his crack cocaine addiction. Parrish said it was obvious Lucas loves his family. His wife, Carmen, and several of his sons and daughters sat behind him on Friday.

“Frankly, you have to love your cocaine more or you wouldn’t be here today,” Parrish said.

The real victims in the case are Lucas’ wife and children, the judge said.

When Lucas was arrested on many of the shoplifting cases, the family quickly paid money to bond him out of jail, cash that could have paid for drug rehabilitation treatment, the judge said.

The judge told Lucas he needed to take personal responsibility.

Parrish noted that in earlier cases, probation hadn’t worked for Lucas, and sentencing him to consecutive sentences of almost 23 years would be disproportional to the degree of loss to Walmart. A killer convicted of felony first-degree murder is eligible for parole after serving 20 years, the judge said.

Before he was sentenced, Lucas said he fought the demons of cocaine every day but would tell himself and his family he wouldn’t use cocaine again only to make a trip to Walmart to steal something to buy $20 worth of the drug.

“Crack cocaine has strangled me, and it took my life,” Lucas said, adding prison terms totaling more than 20 years would be a “death penalty.”

Lucas also praised his children, naming them individually and listing their accomplishments.

“Give me a chance at life,” Lucas said to the judge.

source-cjonline.com

Four arrested in alleged shoplifting scam at Kohl’s www.privateofifcer.com

 

 

CAPITOLA CA Oct 9 2012 - Four Stockton residents were arrested Saturday after security officers reported suspicious activity at Kohl’s and police found the group with 20 department store gift cards and items stolen from stores throughout the Bay Area, police said.

Police believe the group was stealing items or buying stolen items with the tags still attached and then returning them without a receipt and getting gift cards, Capitola police Sgt. Mark Gonzalez said.

The four were caught after mall security officers saw a couple acting suspiciously at Kohl’s about 1 p.m., Gonzalez said. They left with two women waiting outside in a Hyundai, but security officers got the car’s license plate number, he said.

Officer Chris Thompson spotted the car at Home Depot and contacted the occupants, none of whom had had driver’s licenses, Gonzalez said.

Police also realized the registration tags on the Hyundai were stolen and that the car had not been registered for five years, he said.

Thompson found stolen clothing and toiletry items with the tags attached as well as about 20 gift cards, he said. The investigation is continuing, he said.

Lashonda Nix,and Rozina Wiley, both 27, were arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property, conspiracy and driving with a suspended license.

Perkita Reed, 41, and William Johnson, 21, were arrested on suspicion of burglary and conspiracy.

Ohio mother-daughter arrested in organized shoplifting ring www.privateofficer.com

Hardin County KY Oct 9 2012 An Ohio woman and her daughter were arrested in Hardin Countyin connection with what police called an organized shoplifting ring.

Police said they stole thousands of dollars from stores across the country.

The women were indicted in Hardin County last week facing a slew of charges surrounding theft, and police said their crime is widespread.

“You think it would be good to have a family business,” said Elizabethtown Police Department spokesman Virgil Willoughby.

But the kind of business police said Darlene Burnette and her daughter Amber were conducting was anything but a normal family affair.

“They’re operating as an organized shoplifting ring,” said Willoughby.

In August, the two were arrested for stealing at the Towne Mall Bath and Body Works.

Police said they soon discovered there was much more to this mother and daughter duo.

“They would tell us they’ve had multiple run-ins with these people across several different states,” said Willoughby.

Once arrested, police found hundreds of receipts in their car from across the country.

Authorities calculated that over the years, stores lost a startling amount of merchandise thanks to the family.

“They’ve been out several hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said Willoughby.

Police said the Burnettes had their method of operation.

Serial shoplifters steal computer hard drives from nine metro Atlanta Target stores www.privateofficer.com

 

Cobb County, GA Sept 10 2012

Marietta Police are investigating a series of thefts at local Target stores involving two serial shoplifters. Officers say one suspect, 29-year-old Ryan Kingston, of Dacula, is now in police custody in Atlanta. But, they are still searching for Kingston’s accomplice.

Investigators say the two men shoplifted computer hard drives from nine metro Atlanta area Target stores and possibly other stores.

The thefts occurred when Kingston and another unidentified white male entered stores together and walked back to the electronics section a of the store.

Investigators say Kingston was able to defeat the electronic security devices attached to the packaging of the hard drives and then conceal the computer hard drives on his person.

Kingston was captured on camera stealing several computer hard drives from the Target located at 2201 Cobb Parkway on September 4, 2012 at approximately 9:00pm. Forensic evidence collected at the scene also positively identified Kingston as the suspect.

The Marietta Police Department is asking any police jurisdiction or business that has similar, unsolved thefts of computer hard drives to contact the Marietta Police Department’s Crime Analyst at 770-794-5286.

Anyone with information as to the identity of Kingston’s accomplice is also asked to contact the Marietta Police Department Tip Line at 770-794-6990.

Four shoplifters face felony charges in Home Depot scam www.privateofficer.com

 

SALEM NH Sept 10 2012 — Two shoplifting suspects chose a vanity at Home Depot Wednesday evening, then walked around the store, filling it with tools and other items, police said.

The two then went to a self-checkout register, scanned a few of the items and left the store with the goods, valued at $2,000.

Police stopped the suspects’ car as it was leaving the parking lot just before 5:30 p.m.

The four people in the car were arrested and all face at least one felony charge. They all remained in the county jail yesterday evening.

Tiffany Harrison, 24, of Brooklyn is charged with felony willful concealment and false report to law enforcement.

Pierre Louis, 28, of Philadelphia and Rodrigue Domingue, 29, of Brooklyn both face felony charges of criminal liability for conduct of another.

Kenton Ames, 34, of Brooklyn faces a felony charge of theft by deception and possession of false identification.

Harrison, Domingue and Ames all refused the services of a bail commission and were taken to the county jail pending their arraignment in 10th Circuit Court in Salem.

Lous had cash bail set at $5,000, but did not post it and also remains in jail.

Source:eagletribune.com

Hartford man in sticky situation over theft of 200 worth of chewing gum www.privateofficer.com

 

South Windsor CT Sept 9 2012 A Hartford man is in a sticky situation and faces several charges for allegedly trying to shoplift over $200 worth of chewing gum from the Target store on Buckland Hills Drive on Tuesday.

According to a press release from the South Windsor police department, Barry Gholson, 54, was arrested after security officers at the store saw Gholson conceal chewing gum estimated to be worth $234 in a duffel bag and attempt to leave without paying for it.

Police officers, according to the release, found Gholson allegedly in possession of a syringe used to inject heroin.

In a telephone interview, Sgt. Scott Custer said that there is a secondary market for chewing gum, baby formula and energy drinks; people shoplift those items in relative bulk and re-sell them to convenience stores at pennies on the dollar.

“They will re-sell say $230 of chewing gum for $20,” Custer said. “The storekeeper is happy because his overhead is lower.”

Gholson was charged with larceny in the sixth degree and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was later released on a $500 surety bond. He is scheduled to appear at Manchester Superior Court on Sept. 13.

In a similar, but unrelated case, Malgorzata Ingraham, 50, of Hartford, was charged with conspiracy to commit sixth degree larceny after she allegedly attempted to shoplift $45 worth of baby formula from Target on Tuesday.

She was later released on a $5,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear at Manchester Superior Court on Sept. 13.

Cary NC police arrest an ex-husband and wife in shoplifting scheme www.privateofficer.com

Cary, N.C. Sept 9 2012— Cary police have arrested an ex-husband and wife accused of shoplifting thousands of dollars in merchandise and selling the boosted goods on the Internet.

Police said Wednesday that Danielle Bowen, 50, of 1800 Walnut St., Cary, stuffed stolen items into a lead-lined bag to avoid detection as she exited stores. She was charged with shoplifting by concealing merchandise using a lead or aluminum-lined bag, larceny from merchant by removing anti-theft devices, conspiracy to commit a felony and felony possession of stolen property.

She faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.

Her ex-husband, Glen Bowen, 40, also of 1800 Walnut St., was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and felony possession of stolen property. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

Cary police said they arrested the pair Tuesday after being contacted by loss-prevention officers at Hudson Belk in Cary Towne Center. Police said Danielle Bowen had some stolen items in her possession, and more were found after officers searched her home and vehicle.

“Since the arrest, the duo has admitted to selling stolen items on the Internet over the last nine months,” Capt. Don Hamilton said. “There are reasons why online deals sometimes seem too good to be true, so use caution when considering a purchase from a third-party seller.”

Source:WRAL.com

Four charged with running Texas theft ring www.privateofficer.com

 

ROUND ROCK, Texas Aug 31 2012  – Four people are charged in an organized theft ring which totaled $6,000 in stolen merchandise, according to multiple arrest affidavits.

According to the documents released Tuesday, Valentin Perez, Noe Puente, Nereyda Perez, and Diana Puent were working together and targeted over 12 separate locations from cities including Round Rock, San Marcos, and San Antonio.

The arrest warrant affidavit released Tuesday depicts how the four individuals worked together to to steal merchandise from popular Texas outlet malls. Their tactics included pretending they didn’t know each other,snipping off security devices and stuffing stolen merchandise into a child’s back pack.

According to the arrest warrants, the four entered up to nine different stores in the Round Rock Outlet mall, and another two at the San Marcos Outlets. Merchandise was stolen from stores like Puma,Toys R Us,Nike and even over a thousand dollars worth of merchandise from Burberry.

The group was also charged with stealing $1,120 worth of merchandise from Sea World in San Antonio.

According to the arrest warrants, Valentin Perez, Noe Puente, Nereyda Perez, and Diana Puente were all arrested on charges of organized retail theft and endangering a child.

Source: KXAN

Virginia Beach Police charge family with stealing about $100,000 worth of property www.privateofficer.com

 

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.Aug 31 2012 - A couple and their daughter are accused of stealing about $100,000 worth of property from a business they were working at as a cleaning crew.

According to Grazia Moyers with the Virginia Beach Police Department, officers were alerted about a large scale theft at the T.J. Maxx located at 2356 Virginia Beach Boulevard on Aug. 27.

A loss prevention investigator for the business said investigators noticed large quantities of various items missing and found suspects removing large trash bags from the store.

The suspects, Slavtcho Andonav, 59, Tinka Andonova, 56, and Elvira Raycheva, 23, were employed as a contract cleaning company for T.J. Maxx, Moyers said. Investigators for T.J. Maxx believed the three had stolen from the store over a six month period.

Moyers said officers seized about $100,000 worth of stolen property from the trio’s home along Tivoli Crescent in Virginia Beach Wednesday. Officers believe they shipped a large quantity of stolen goods to their home in Bulgaria.

“There wasn’t much room [in the home,]” Beach detective Nicole Allday said. “It was packed from the floor all the way up. Every pantry, every cupboard, closet.”

Slavtcho Andonov and Tinka Andonova have been charged with five counts of grand larceny, two counts of petit larceny and three counts of conspiracy. Raycheva has been charged with receiving stolen property and conspiracy.

All are being held without bond at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center because they are considered a flight risk. All three were in the country legally and had work visas, according to police.

Moyers said the Department of Homeland Security is assisting in the investigation

Source:WAVY.com

Police arrest 3 in Apple store theft at Willowbrook Mall www.privateofficer.com

 

Wayne NJ Aug 20 2012 A man working in a group walked into an Apple computer store at Willowbrook Mall Tuesday morning and began stuffing a bag with iPods before a store attendant noticed him, setting off a car chase that involved police in three towns, police said.

Samuel Perez, left, Pedro Lopez, center, Kenneth Torres Officers arrested three men in Clifton they suspect are involved in the theft and recovered 36 of 37 stolen iPods valued at more than $8,000. Police say they are investigating a possible connection involving the three suspects to a similar theft at the same store two weeks ago, said Capt. Jim Clarke, Wayne police spokesman.

Pedro Lopez, 48, of Newark; Kenneth Torres, 38, of Fellsmere, Fla.; and Samuel Perez, 40, of Belleville, each were charged with theft, Clarke said. The iPods were valued at $8,664.

Lopez allegedly cased the store at about 8:15 a.m. while the store’s staff was conducting a seminar on how to use Apple products, Clarke said. Lopez left and Torres allegedly entered the store and started piling the iPods into a bag. A store employee saw the theft in progress and alerted other store workers, Clarke said.

Torres ran out of the store and got into a silver Nissan Pathfinder driven by Lopez, with Perez as a passenger, the captain said. As the vehicle sped away, the store staff called police and Wayne dispatchers notified other departments to be on alert for the Pathfinder.

A Little Falls police officer soon after spotted the vehicle based on the description and with the help of a Clifton patrolman pulled the vehicle over on Route 3 near Grove Street in Clifton.

Police said the iPods were in “plain view” when the officers stopped the car.

The three suspects were transferred to Wayne police for processing. Police recovered 36 of the 37 iPods, which were inventoried and returned to the store, Clarke said.

Lopez, Torres and Perez were released on summonses on the theft charges. Torres was wanted on an outstanding warrant in Newark and was released on $400 bail. Lopez also was wanted on a warrant from Wayne and posted $268 bail.

Employees of the store told police Tuesday’s theft was similar to a theft at the store two weeks ago. Detectives are investigating possible connections between Tuesday’s theft and the earlier one,

Source:northjersey.com

Mother and son steal more than $2 million from Toys R Us www.privateofficer.com

 

MIAMI FLA Aug 14 2012 — A mother and son stole more than $2 million in expensive toys by stashing them inside the boxes of cheaper products that they bought at Toys R Us stores across the U.S., authorities say.

Broward County Sheriff’s deputies say Michael and Margaret Pollara then sold the big-ticket items online, according to an arrest affidavit. They were arrested Thursday and face a bevy of theft charges. Both remain in jail, and it’s not clear if either has an attorney.

Michael and Margaret Pollara visited 139 Toys R Us in 27 states, including California, Hawaii and New York, buying nearly $7,000 worth of small-ticket items to fuel their scam, according to the affidavit. Authorities were able to track Michael Pollara’s purchases across the country because he used a Toys R Us rewards card for all of his purchases.

Authorities said the Pollaras trolled stores looking for inexpensive toys that came in large boxes. They then emptied out the contents and filled the large box with more expensive toys, including $150 Lego sets and Leapster Pads, worth $99 apiece. The pair would hide the cheap contents somewhere around the store and pay for the inexpensive large box filled with more expensive goodies. Seventy-year-old Margaret Pollara often worked as a lookout, according to the arrest report.

Authorities tracked the two for months, watching them allegedly steal from various stores around the state and later ship packages filled with toys. Michael Pollara, 46, had more than $900,000 in eBay and PayPal accounts, according to the report.

Authorities began following the two in May after a Toys R Us employee in South Florida noticed that several large Lego boxes were missing even though she had seen them on the shelf earlier that morning. Store video showed Michael Pollara carrying the Lego box in the toy aisle, but the video did not show him actually removing the contents. He used a Toys R Us rewards card, which helped authorities track his purchases around the country.

Source:AP

CT trio charged with shoplifting from outlets www.privateofficer.com

 

Clinton CT Aug 12 2012 — Three Hartford residents are accused of stealing merchandise worth more than $2,500 from Clinton Crossing and Tanger Outlets in Westbrook.

Phathesia Robinson, 28, 91 Barber St., Joycelyn Mack, 30, 67 Edgewood St., and Jeremy Hasty, 24, 7 May St., were all charged with third-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny on Saturday. All three appeared in Middletown Superior Court Monday to face the charges, which are class D felonies and carry a maximum sentence of five years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Store employees at Tanger Outlets in Westbrook called police after seeing the trio and suspecting they were stealing from multiple stores, including Carters and Osh Kosh, police said. Employees reportedly watched Robinson, Mack and Hasty walk to a car and deposit shopping bags, then return to the shops.

A security officer approached the car and saw brand new Carter’s clothing with tags and hangers still attached. By the time police arrived, the trio had left the mall.

Police found the car a short time later at the Clinton outlets. Officers set up a perimeter, and when the three returned to the car with more shopping bags, police took them into custody.

When police asked to see receipts for the multiple items in the car, all three suspects denied knowledge or involvement with the items, police said. Police found merchandise from 14 different stores with a total estimated value of $2,640.

Robinson had bond set for $5,000 cash or surety and is due back in court Aug. 27. Mack was appointed a public defender and is due back in court Aug. 22. Hasty posted a $5,000 professional surety bond and is due back in court Aug. 27. All three defendants were ordered not to have any contact with each other and to stay away from both the Clinton and Westbrook outlets.

Source:middletown press

Two Pennsylvania woman charged with thefts of $6,000 of Apple products www.privateofficer.com

Fairlawn OH Aug 3 2012 Over the last month, two women from Pennsylvania have repeatedly walked into Summit Mall’s Apple Store and stolen thousands in merchandise, a Fairlawn police report said.

On July 24, store security called police to report the women in the store again and said the women have hit other area Apple Store’s too. When police arrived, they stopped the women at the door and found stolen merchandise in their purses, the report said.

One woman also had stolen merchandise from Things Remembered and RadioShack.

Apple Store security saw the women enter the store on June 24 and steal $1,800 of merchandise. The women came back again on July 13 and stole $2,000 of products. Finally, they came back once more on July 19 and stole $2,461 in merchandise, the report said.

Police charged the women, both 31, with felony theft and took them to the Summit County Jail.

Three Arrested for $9,000 Victoria’s Secret Theft www.privateofficer.com

 

Boca Raton Fla Aug 2 2012 Authorities said they arrested three people in connection with a Boca Raton Victoria’s Secret theft in which $9,000 in merchandise was stolen.

Michelle Feliciano, 42, Danny Torreira, 22, and Leonidas Herrera, 24, were arrested Saturday and charged with grand theft, according to online records. The three remain in jail in Palm Beach County.

Osmany Benitez, a security officer at the store located at 6000 West Glades Road, called Boca Raton Police to report the theft. Benitez told officers two men and one woman fled in a Nissan Sentra and Cadillac Escalade. The vehicles were located at a nearby gas station, police said.

Miami Man Arrested For Boat Engine Thefts In Southwest Ranches: BSO

Authorities said Herrera, whose aunt is Feliciano, admitted that the three would steal merchandise together and that he and Feliciano committed two previous thefts. Torreira refused to speak with officers and Feliciano denied any involvement, according to authorities.

More than $9,000 in merchandise was recovered in the Sentra, which was rented by Feliciano. She and Herrera were also charged with previous retail theft crimes, police said.

Source:NBC6

Women Arrested for Stealing Thousands in Clothes www.privateofficer.com

 

Johnson City, NY July 29 2012 Four women are sent to jail without bail after police say they stole nearly $2,700 worth of stuff from the Oakdale Mall.

On July 25, Johnson City Police arrested a group of females for shoplifting. Police say they acted as a group and stole a large amount of clothing from the GAP store and The Children’s Place in the Oakdale Mall

Arrested:

Isophine Butts, 36, Syracuse

Anotya Dixon, 26, Syracuse

Maria Clark-Ensley, 27, Syracuse

Tamika Ensley, 25, Sayre, PA

The women are facing multiple charges including felony grand larceny.

Investigators say the women had foil-lined bags to deflect store security alarms on clothing security tags and say the group had special tools to take off those tags.

The females were charged with stealing more than $1,100 from the GAP and more than $1,600 from The Children’s Place.

Butts is also charged with assault and resisting arrest. Police say she caused minor injury to a police officer. The officer had a sprained hand and had to be treated at Lourdes Hospital.

All of the women were arraigned in Village Court and sent to the Broome County Jail without bail.

Binghamton Police Department, Broome County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police assisted.

Source:WBNG

Two Polk County women busted in shoplifting spree www.privateofficer.com

 

LAKELAND Fla July 13 2012- Two Polk County women are facing a variety of charges after they were arrested Thursday night for stealing clothes from the Lakeland Square Mall.

Quantavia Ponder and Teisha Wimbush were booked into the Polk County Jail and released Friday after they each posted a bond of $4,250.

Both suspects were charged with 10 counts of grand theft, one count of battery on a law enforcement officer and one count of resisting arrest.

The incident occurred just after 8 PM Thursday.

According to a Lakeland Police Department report mall security contacted authorities after following Ponder, 22, and Wimbush, 21, into the parking lot.

Inside their vehicle detectives discovered hundreds of clothing items allegedly stolen from a variety of retail stores throughout Central Florida.

Investigators say the women took items from several businesses within the Lakeland City limits. Among the stores they hit – Dillards, Old Navy, The Children’s Place and Aeropostal.

In all a total of $3,246 worth of merchandise was confiscated from the suspect vehicle. All of the clothing items still had the retail tags on them.

When officers attempted to prevent Ponder and Wimbush from driving away they engaged in a physical confrontation with the pair.

At least two LPD officers were struck by the suspects according to the arrest report. Fortunately they were not injured.

Additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.

Source: FOX 13

Three charged after a family shoplifting spree involving 5 stores, deputies say www.privateofficer.com

 

Key Largo Fla July 10 2012 One Key Largo family missed the fireworks on the Fourth of July when they landed behind bars after a family shoplifting outing.

Three family members from Key Largo were arrested on the Fourth of July after they were caught with stolen merchandise from five different stores, according to a news release from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

A manager at a Publix in Key Largo called authorities after an employee noticed a man, later identified as Edy Martinez Lezcano, walk out of the store with a basketful of groceries without paying for them, according to the release.

A responding deputy found Martinez Lezcano, 29, standing in front of K-Mart. His 37-year-old wife, Maria de los Angeles Betancourt, was stopped by another deputy in their H3 Hummer a short distance away after the manager identified her and the Hummer as the vehicle containing the stolen items, according to the release.

Lezcano’s mother-in-law — Betancourt’s mom, Eustasia Elena Gonzalez, 57 — was then found in another location in the parking lot.

Another store manager in the plaza — from K-Mart — then approached the deputies as they were investigating and reported that he had seen the same three people enter his store to shoplift, the report stated.

A search of the Hummer turned up over $700 worth of stolen merchandise from K-Mart, Publix, Beall’s department store, Shell World and West Marine, according to deputies.

All three were arrested and charged with five counts of theft.

Source:sun sentinel

Two Lakeland women , accused of shoplifting more than $70,000 worth of merchandise www.privateofficer.com

 

LAKELAND Fla July 10 2012

Two Lakeland women were arrested late Thursday, accused of shoplifting more than $70,000 worth of merchandise from stores in Hillsborough and Polk counties, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Nadia Blackburn, 29, of 6546 Evergreen Park Drive, and Stephanie Couture, 31, of 3120 Bonnybrook Drive South, were charged with grand theft following an investigation by Polk detectives that began in 2011.

The charges against the two women were filed by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution on Thursday. The two were arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail on Thursday night and released early Friday after posting $1,000 bail each, according to jail records.

Blackburn, who is a nurse with Bartow Regional Medical Center, and Couture, who operates Coupon Cutters Co., are accused of shoplifting from numerous stores and selling the items on eBay, according to sheriff’s detectives.

Blackburn operated under the eBay account name of NVBNautica and Couture operated the Always28smiling account.

Blackburn did not return a call for comment and attempts to reach Couture were unsuccessful.

“The women independently and together removed merchandise from stores using various concealment methods,” PCSO spokeswoman Donna Wood wrote in a press release. “Both women admitted to taking their children along during their shoplifting outings.”

While detectives were conducting an ongoing investigation of Blackburn, she was arrested by Hillsborough County deputies March 6, 2011, for shoplifting at J.C. Penney’s at the Brandon Town Center, according to reports. At the time, her son was with her, the press release said.

Wood said Polk detectives took the opportunity to question Blackburn about her activities. She told them she had been shoplifting for about 11 years and would sell the items on eBay for extra money, reports said.

Through research, Polk detectives learned her eBay account had been opened in July 2002, reports said.

At the time of her 2011 arrest, Polk detectives also questioned Blackburn’s husband, Paul Blackburn, Wood said. He first denied knowing about the alleged shoplifting, but in later interviews with detectives he said “he knew his wife routinely stole items, but he said he disapproved of the behavior.”

During the time of Paul Blackburn’s questioning, Couture arrived to help with the children, detectives wrote.

She initially denied knowing about her friend’s shoplifting, but later told detectives after learning of the ongoing investigation that Blackburn had taught her how to shoplift, according to reports.

After obtaining a search warrant for Blackburn’s Lakeland home, detectives found about $70,000 of merchandise from area stores. Some of the merchandise still had the price tag attached, reports said.

Source:theledger.com

San Antonio panty thief accused of attacking a mall cop www.privateofficer.com

 

SAN ANTONIO TX July 8 2012 – Theft charges are mounting against a local woman accused of attacking a mall cop while trying to steal underwear from a department store.

San Antonio police say 26-year old Vanessa Ojeda is one of the women seen in surveillance pictures attacking a Sears Loss Prevention Officer at Ingram Park Mall.

After a Crime Stoppers tip was called in, Ojeda was arrested at her home in May.

But authorities believe the panty caper wasn’t Ojeda’s first.

Investigators say that same tipster reported that Ojeda had also stolen several purses from North Star Mall. Police were already investigating that case which happened in April.

According to a SAPD arrest warrant, surveillance video shows Ojeda and a Hispanic male suspect, stealing six Burberry purses from Saks Fifth Avenue in North Star Mall.

The purses are estimated to be worth around $7,000.

Crime Stoppers is asking the public’s help in find the two female suspects involved in the attack on the security guard.

Investigators are also looking for the Hispanic male suspect seen with Ojeda at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Ojeda is currently being lodged in the Bexar County Jail. Her bond has been set at $50,000.

Source:kens5.com

Staples Shoplifting Ring Hit Stores in 4 States www.privateofficer.com

 

Madison NJ July 5 2012 A Brooklyn man charged with shoplifting seventoner cartridges from the Madison Staples on June 21 allegedly was part of an organized retail crime ring that stole more than $100,000 in printer ink from Staples stores in New Jersey and also hit stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire, authorities said.

The man, Daquan Dollar, 24, was one of three alleged shoplifters arrested Friday in New Hampshire on felony organized retail crime related charges by Tilton, N.H., police, according to a Tilton Police news release.

Madison Police Lt. Darren Dachisen said on Monday that Madison police detectives have been sharing information with other agencies investigating similar cases.

“They would target toner at 100 dollars a box, at 200 dollars a box and they were averaging between 2 to 3 thousand dollars per store in thefts every time they hit,” Tilton Police Chief Robert Cormier told WMUR.

The station reported it likely will be tried as a federal case and that at least $60,000 in toner ink, tablet computers and calculators believed to have been stolen by the ring were recovered in a Nashua, N.H., hotel room.

Dollar was out on bail on the Madison charges when he wound up behind bars on the New Hampshire charges about a week later, authorities said.

Tilton police arrested Dollar and the two other defendants—Louissant Kashif Trumaine, 20, and Ronnell Samuals, 27, both of Brooklyn—and learned they were wanted in connection with other crimes in New Jersey on June 25, Connecticut and Massachusetts on June 26, and New Hampshire on June 28.

One suspect, Dwayne Dollar, 27, remains at large, police said.

In New Jersey, the ring allegedly was responsible for over $100,000 dollars in thefts from Staples stores, Cormier.

“All officers and detectives worked well together on scene to locate the suspects quickly and make their arrest,” Cormier said of the Friday arrests. He said Tilton police were “glad we were able to help get them in custody.”

In Massachusetts, they allegedly hits stores in Boston, Cambridge, Brighton, Framingham, Shrewsbury, Natick, Worcester and Millbury. Then on June 28, they left for New Hampshire and allegedly hit stores in Nashua, Bedford and Manchester, before being spotted in Concord and then heading to Tilton.

The arrests in Tilton came when police were flagged by Staples employees, and a regional loss prevention manager told police he just saw three or four men fitting the description of suspects involved in thefts from Staples stores.

When the alleged shoplifters realized store employees recognized them, one of them threw a “booster bag,” a special bag used by shoplifters to avoid setting off security devices, and the four men then ran out of the store and split up, police said. Two ran into neighboring stores, one ran into a vehicle and one fled toward a mall.

One man allegedly hid in an employee stock room of a nearby store and then fled out a fire exit, setting off an alarm, and running along railroad tracks before being caught by police.

Police stopped two other men allegedly attempting to flee in a car with New York plates.

Dollar was released the day after his June 21 arrest in Madison on $25,000 bail. He was charged with eluding arrest, resisting arrest and shoplifting in the Madison incident after he allegedly ran from police and was chased down by Patrolman James Cavezza on foot and Patrolwoman Lisa Esposito assisted with the arrest.

Four charged in $3,400 from NJ Home Depot store www.privateofficer.com

 

Raritan Township NJ June 3 2012 Police in Raritan Township arrested four Trenton residents after more than $3,400 in goods were shoplifted from the Home Depot on Route 202-31.

Police were dispatched to the store Monday, June 25, about 8:15 p.m. for a report of shoplifters who left the store. Police arrested a 16-year-old Trenton youth and charged him with shoplifting $1,600 worth of merchandise. Officers also arrested Lorenza Fletcher, 24, of Trenton and charged her with shoplifting $1,862 in merchandise. She had two outstanding warrants out of Trenton and was taken to the Hunterdon County Jail with bail of $19,000.

Police also arrested Tiwan Ritter, 22, of Trenton and charged him with shoplifting $1,862 worth of merchandise. He had one outstanding warrant out of Trenton and was released after posting $564 bail. And police arrested Natasha Richardson, 25 of Trenton and charged her with receiving stolen property ($442 worth of merchandise). She had three outstanding warrants out of Trenton, Lawrenceville, and Monmouth Junction and was released after posting $1,322 bail. Arrests were by Patrolman Ryan Garbolino.

Source:nj.com

Two men wanted in theft of thousands of dollars worth of Apple products from Walmart www.privateofficer.com

 

CHILLICOTHE OH July 3 2012 – Two men wanted in connection with the theft of thousands of dollars worth of Apple products from a local store appear similar to those sought in a theft at a Lewis Center store just two days before.
Surveillance photos released by Central Ohio Crime Stoppers this week from a June 6 theft at the Lewis Center Walmart reveal the two men are similar in appearance to those pictured in surveillance footage taken June 8 at the Chillicothe Walmart. While the footage shows the pair dressed in the same clothes, different vehicle descriptions have been given in the thefts of more than $38,000 worth of Apple products between the two stores.

A similar theft also occurred in Stafford, Va., just south of Washington, D.C., in March.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is looking for two men in connection with the March 23 theft of more than $7,000 worth of Apple products. A news release about the theft reveal the descriptions, surveillance photos and manner of theft are similar. The release also indicated a similar theft also happened about the same date at a Fredricksburg, Va., Walmart.

March 23: In the early morning hours of March 23, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said more than $7,000 in electronics were taken from Walmart at 217 Garrisonville Road, Stafford, Va., and pictured on surveillance video. One man was seen entering and exiting the store numerous times and waiting in or near the suspect vehicle. Meanwhile, a second man broke the lock on the Apple case and ran away to retrieve a suitcase. He loaded the suitcase with all of the Apple products from the case and dropped it over a fence in the lawn and garden department. He then scaled the fence and left.

June 6: At about 1:30 a.m., two men entered the Lewis Center Walmart and went to the electronics department. One man walked behind the Apple display and began removing items — 15 iPads and 18 iPods –and put them into a black duffle bag. The men then left the store and got into a late-model gray or gold colored Honda CRV. The stolen property is valued at more than $10,000.

June 8: About 1:40 a.m., two men entered the electronics department at the Chillicothe Walmart. The shorter of the two men distracted a sales associate by asking for help. The other man then opened the display case, took 33 Apple items worth $28,816 and placed them into three duffle bags. The men then left the store in either a silver or green Kia Soul. The loss prevention employee told police these same men might have done this at other Walmart stores.

Stafford, Va.: The first suspect is described as a light- skinned black or Hispanic male, age 22 to 28, 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-10, wearing a black T-shirt, gray Hollister sweatpants and black shoes, with a tattoo on the inside of his right forearm. The second suspect is described as a black male, age 22 to 28, 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-9, wearing a gray Hollister T-shirt, black sweat pants and black and white tennis shoes. The first suspect was seen in the store asking about electronics the day before the theft.

The vehicle that the suspects were driving is described as a possible Chrysler 300, painted in a distinctive two tone with a white or light color on the roof and a maroon or red color on the bottom half of the vehicle. The car is also outfitted with custom rims.

Lewis Center: One suspect is described as a dark- complected black man, 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, about 30 years old, with a mustache/goatee. He was wearing brown wide-frame glasses, black baseball-style cap, black Adidas warm-up jacket with white stripes on the shoulders and sleeves, and dark pants. The second suspect is described as a light-complected black man, 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, about 25 years old, and a slight mustache. He was wearing a white hooded jacket with gray horizontal stripes and blue jeans.

Chillicothe: Police never provided a written description of the suspects, but said the suspects were two black men, one with a lighter complexion and the other with a darker complexion. Surveillance photos released show the men were wearing the same jackets like the ones worn in the Lewis Center thefts –one with a black Adidas warm-up; the other, a white hooded jacket with horizontal gray stripes.

Source:Chillicothe Gazzette

Five charged with organize crimes in Houston area Walmart thefts www.privateofficer.com

 

HOUSTON TX June 27 2012—Five suspects have been arrested for stealing from numerous Walmarts across Houston.

On Wednesday, June 20, the Walmart located at 27650 Tomball Parkway reported a theft to Tomball police and provided a description of the suspects and their vehicle.

Officers stopped the described vehicle and arrested Stephanie Chavez, Deann Drab, Matilda Vargas, Brandy Hernandez and Randall Contreras.

According to police, the five suspects have been linked to a large theft ring that has been operating for more than two years

All five suspects were charged with organized retail theft and are currently in police custody awaiting court appearance.

Vegas women arrested in NY shoplifting incident www.privateofficer.com

 

NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. June 27 2012 - Two women from Las Vegas have been charged after authorities say they stole clothes from Sears and then threatened a pursuing officer with a large stick.

According to New Hartford Police, on June 24 around 4 p.m., officers were called to Sears for a report of a larceny. Prior to the officers’ arrival on scene, Store Security told authorities that two females had fled the store on foot.

Store security followed the females – Joanne D. Henderson, 22 and Sebbra J. Kerr, 31, both of Las Vegas, Nevada – across Seneca Turnpike into a residential area where police said Kerr picked up a large stick and threatened the officer with it. Police located the duo on Balsam Crescent and they were eventually arrested after a brief foot pursuit.

New Hartford Police said that Henderson and Kerr worked together to steal more than $170 in clothing from Sears. Both were charged with petit larceny and resisting arrest.

Kerr was additionally charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree menacing.

They were both arraigned in the Town of New Hartford Court and remanded to the Oneida County Jail in lieu of bail.

Police said they located additional clothing from other stores with both women and additional charges are possible, pending further investigation.

Source:WKTV.com