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Retail Security/ Shoplifting News Round-Up www.privateofficer.com
Retail Security/Shoplifting News Round-Up http://www.privateofficer.com
Atlanta Ga. June 21 2008
Compiled by: Stephanie Kay
Bryan Hill
Peabody Ma.
Jessica Smith, 22, of 3114 Avalon Drive, Peabody, was arrested at 8:06 p.m. and charged with shoplifting at Shaw’s Supermarket on Route 114.
Jacqueline Battiata, 20, of 97 Phillips St., Apt. 2, Metheun, was arrested at 11:30 a.m. and charged with shoplifting at Gap Kids/Gap Baby at the Northshore Mall.
Danvers MA
Carmello Arroyo, 42, of 67 Selbe St., Lynn, was arrested at 5:30 p.m. and charged with larceny (more than $250) at Wal-Mart.
Tuesday Brandon Ouellette, 24, of 58 Warren St., Extension, Peabody, was arrested at 2:44 p.m. and charged with shoplifting at Wal-Mart.
Carlsbad NM
Remigio Moralez, 38, of the 4800 block of Adobe, charged with shoplifting.
WALTHAM MA.
A Malden woman was arrested after police say she was caught attempting to steal baby formula from Hannaford Supermarket on Russell Street.
On Sunday at 4:58 p.m., Monique Dunn, 40, of 4 Nolan St., was arrested and charged with shoplifting, said police
Greene County NC
Iris Pannell, 43, 101 Eastover Drive, Snow Hill, June 7, misdemeanor shoplifting. Bond: Written promise. Arresting officer: A. Taylor.
Hanover MA.
1:53 p.m. Washington St., and Sears, shoplifting. Arrest: Valerie F. Lapaglia, 17, 234 Quincy Ave., Braintree. Charges: Shoplifting by asportation
BRIDGETON NJ
Ronnie B. Barbary, 44, of Atlantic City, was arrested Tuesday at the IGA grocery store on the charge of shoplifting, accused of trying to return two bags of potato chips he allegedly picked up while in the store using an old receipt. Also served a failure to appear warrant, he was lodged in the county jail in lieu of $750 bail
NATICK MA An East Boston woman was arrested Saturday at 5:13 p.m. at J.C. Penney in the Natick Collection, police said.
Wendy Diaz, 33, of 211 Faywood Ave. Apt. 300, was arrested on a charge of shoplifting, police said. She allegedly placed her child in a stroller and tried to leave without paying, police said
NATICK MA A Framingham woman was arrested Monday at 11:21 a.m. at J.C. Penney at the Natick Collection, police said.
Nancy Dow, 68, of 6 Laurie Lane, was arrested on charges of shoplifting merchandise worth more than $100, police said.
Cookeville TN.
Jennifer Marie Compton was issued a warrant for Shoplifting and Resisting Arrest at Hills IGA N. Washington Ave.
Bridgeton NJ
Edward E. Stocks, 44, of South Avenue, was arrested Thursday on South Avenue on the charge of shoplifting, accused of stealing soap from the IGA grocery store. He was released on his own recognizance.
North Palm Beach Fla
Shoplifting: Police arrested Melissa Watkins of the 300 block of Timber Lane, Greenacres and charged her with retail theft.
Shoplifting: Police arrested James Sayles of the 6000 block of Lucerne Street, and charge him with retail theft.
Shoplifting: Police arrested Andrew Hill of the 100 block of Saddle Lane and charged him with retail theft.
Shoplifting: Police arrested Joseph McDonald III of the 12000 block of 186th Court, and charged him with retail theft and trespassing after warning.
WALTHAM MA A Waltham woman was seen shoplifting at Hannaford’s, 55 Russell St., on Sunday night, police said. Jane Lehr, 54, of 27 Noonan St., was arrested and charged with shoplifting $20 worth of merchandise at 7:39 p.m., police said.
SHOW LOW AZ.
Luis Pedro Gonzalez, 18, of Show Low was booked and held on a criminal trespass charge after reportedly trespassing at Wal-Mart
Kathy Lynn Mata, 49, of Show Low was booked and held on a charge of criminal trespass after reportedly trespassing at Wal-Mart.
PASCAGOULA MS.
Denny Avenue, Lowe’s, Charles Swinney, 39, Castenera Street, Moss Point, was arrested for felony shoplifting. Jennifer Lee, 33, Potomac, Pascagoula, was arrested for old fines, and failure to appear.
Millville NJ
Amy M. Bassett, 31, of Opal Road, was arrested Friday on charges of shoplifting, conspiracy, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a hypodermic syringe. She also had a no bail warrant out of Atlantic County. Bassett was taken to CCJ pending her court date.
Dawn M. Douglas, 40, of Port Elizabeth, was charged Friday with shoplifting and conspiracy. She was later released.
Pamela S. Vasquez, 40, of West Main Street, was charged Friday with forgery, theft of property lost and theft by deception. She was released on a summons.
Elyria Oh
5:36 p.m. – Macy’s, Midway Mall, Lyneice S. Walker, 20, Lorain, charged with theft and obstructing official business
BULLHEAD CITY AZ Ilia Vejur Sohn, 18, was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of shoplifting after police reportedly found $77.37 worth of unpaid-for shirts and underwear in her bag. She was also reportedly wearing some of the underwear after having removed the tags. Police were initially called to the store by loss prevention employees, who had reportedly seen Sohn go inside the restroom, where police reportedly found a number of merchandise tags. Sohn was booked at the police department and taken to court
Norridge IL
Glyenann Harper, 22, of 8720 S. Vincennes Ave., Chicago, was arrested June 5 at Carson’s, 4200 N. Harlem Ave., and charged with felony retail theft. Police said Harper took men’s clothing into a women’s fitting room, where she removed security sensor tags and concealed the clothing on her person. She left the store without paying for the clothing, valued at $337, police said. At a June 6 hearing in Rolling Meadows, bond for Harper was set at $35,000. She is scheduled to appear at 10:30 a.m. July 23 in Room 108 of the Rolling Meadows Court House.
Clifford Janis, 80, of 3239 N. Leavitt Ave., Chicago, was arrested May 26 at Foot Locker, 4160 N. Harlem Ave., and charged with retail theft. Store employees told police they saw Janis conceal three shirts valued at $29.99 in a plastic bag and leave the store without paying for them. Bond for Janis was set at $1,000. He is scheduled to appear in court June 19.
Marzena Rospek-Otto, 36, of 4609 N. Thatcher Ave., Norridge, was arrested June 3 at Kohl’s, 4220 N. Harlem Ave., and charged with retail theft. Police said Rospeck-Otto took children’s clothing and women’s lingerie valued at $375 to a fitting room, where she concealed the items. She left the store without paying, police said. Bond for Rospek-Otto was set at $1,000. She is scheduled for a July 23 court appearance.
Marybel Lopez, 34, of 2716 N. Ridgeway Ave., Chicago, was arrested June 7 at Kmart, 4201 N. Harlem Ave., and charged with theft. Police said Lopez, a Kmart employee, is accused of taking two boxes of Cheerios valued at $9.98, a $14 bra and $93.84 cash from the store between April 6 and June 7. Bond for Lopez was set at $1,000. She is slated for a July 14 court appearance.
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Fla. police capture jewelry thief www.privateofficer.com
Fla. police capture jewelry thief http://www.privateofficer.com
On April 1st, 2008 Sarasota Sheriff’s Detectives arrested Nathan M. Hublick of Englewood at Bealls Department Store at 5451 Palmer Crossings, Sarasota on 4 counts of Grand Theft and one count of Petit Theft totaling $8,623.97 from various Bealls Department Stores in Sarasota County.
Police say that the suspect would enter the stores and remove jewelry from their respective jewelry boxes and then concealed the jewelry on his person before leaving the stores.
Authorities say that the store security personnel became aware of it and in some cases his crimes were captured on the stores surveillance cameras but police did not say why the loss prevention agents didn’t attempt to apprehend him on any of those occassions.
Sarasota detectives say that they got involved and were able to identify Hublick as the suspect in all of the theft cases and filed the charges against him this week.
Hublick is currently being held at the Sarasota County Jail on $4,120.00 bond. The investigation is ongoing.
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Shoplifter dies after being handcuffed www.privateofficer.com
Shoplifter dies after being handcuffed www.privateofficer.com
Morgan Hill Ca. Nov. 29, 2007
Morgan Hill police say a 47-year-old Greenfield man died after supermarket security guards detained him on suspicion of stealing $700 worth of food and alcohol.
Authorities say the man ran out of the store Tuesday afternoon, where security guards caught up with and handcuffed him. The man then reportedly lost consciousness a short time later and the security agents called for an ambulance.
The man was taken to St. Louise Regional Hospital where he died.
His identity has not been released yet pending notification of family and police are investigating the death but are unsure right now of the cause saying that the man may have had medical conditions or there may have been illegal drug use.
An autopsy will be preformed to determine that cause within the next 24 hours.
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Shoplifter steals coats, jeans worth thousands By; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com
Shoplifter takes jeans, coats worth thousands By; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com
EDMOND Okl. Nov. 25 2007 — A Skiatook woman was arrested in Edmond on a complaint of stealing merchandise from Kohl’s Department Store 2201 W Danforth Road.
Elsie Lorene Caldwell, 33, was booked into the Oklahoma County jail on a shoplifting complaint.
A security officer at the store told police he watched a woman take price and security tags off several leather jackets and put the garments in her shopping cart, according to an Edmond police report released this week.
The woman then went to the women’s and home sections of the store, where additional merchandise was put into the same shopping cart, the report shows.
The woman was stopped by the security officer once she left the store.
The stolen merchandise was estimated at more than $4,200 and included six leather coats, eight pairs of jeans, and a $300 comforter.
The woman apologized and asked not to be taken to jail. She told police she was displaced from Louisiana and was only trying to provide Christmas for her children, the report states.
Glynda Chu, spokeswoman for Edmond police, said she doesn’t know whether the woman arrested is in fact from Louisiana.
Caldwell is scheduled to be sentenced this week in Tulsa County after she pleaded guilty to felony charges of uttering a forged instrument, larceny of merchandise from a retailer and bringing contraband into the jail, court records show.
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Detective shoots shoplifter who runs him down www.privateofficer.com
Detective shoots shoplifter who runs him down www.privateofficer.com
DELRAY BEACH FLA. Nov. 18, 2007 — A Delray Beach police detective shot and wounded a fleeing shoplifter Friday morning and was injured himself when the shoplifter drove her car into him as she made her escape, police said.
After Darlene Rawls, 37, shoplifted a $40 bathrobe from Linens ‘n Things, she refused to give up peacefully when a detective cornered her on Linton Boulevard and Southwest Fourth Avenue, police said. Rawls reversed, then drove forward, striking the detective and injuring his knee. He got off one shot, which struck Rawls’ left forearm before entering her abdomen.
Rawls sped off in a gold, late-model Mitsubishi Galant, a rental car, as the detective got off the ground and pursued her in his car. She eluded him, but when she got out at Bethesda Medical Center, police caught up with her, said officer Jeff Messer, police spokesman.
Rawls’ wound was not life-threatening. She was taken to Delray Medical Center before doctors released her and police took her into custody. She admitted to the crime, Messer said.
The detective, whose name was not released, may have sustained ligament damage to his right knee when the Galant hit him, police said. After quitting the pursuit, he returned to the police station and was taken to Delray Medical Center for treatment. He was later released.
The detective believed his life was in danger when he opened fire, Messer said.
He was placed on paid administrative leave, a routine move whenever an officer fires a weapon.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is leading an investigation into the shooting.
The incident began when Rawls, of West Palm Beach, and at least one man and one other woman were seen shoplifting a $40 bathrobe from Linens ‘n Things in The Plaza at Delray in the 1600 block of South Federal Highway, Messer said.
Rawls, who has been arrested 18 times in Florida on charges that include shoplifting and larceny, made off with the bathrobe, but she and the other shoplifters didn’t get far, police said.
Store workers called police, and the detective spotted Rawls turning out of the parking lot onto westbound Linton Boulevard. He pulled his car in front of the Galant near the intersection of Linton Boulevard and Southwest Fourth Avenue, and it stopped. The lights on his car were flashing. He stepped out and identified himself as a police officer, his badge visible, Messer said.
Rawls’ eyes met the detective’s, Messer said, and then she turned and said something to the other people in the car.
That’s when she reversed, pulled forward and tried to drive around the detective, hitting him, and taking a bullet before she could get away.
Authorities were looking for the other people in the Galant, believed to be as many as two men and one other woman. Police believe one of the men in the car may have shown up after the shoplifting incident. They also were searching for the Galant, which probably has a broken windshield from either the bullet or the impact with the detective, Messer said.
Rawls already had a warrant out for her arrest on a charge of uttering a forged instrument, police said. She was expected to be booked into the Palm Beach County Jail.
The shooting, which caused authorities to shut down westbound Linton Boulevard from Southwest Fourth Avenue to Old Dixie Highway, also resulted in a second arrest.
As the incident unfolded, Delray Beach police sent out an alert to other law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the Galant.
Boynton Beach police officer Rachel Loy spotted a silver Mitsubishi Galant and tried to pull over the car, but the driver, Kashus Davis, 22, of Boynton Beach, did not stop, police said.
He drove off, tried to run away and was finally tasered before police found crack cocaine in his car and took him to jail on various charges.
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Shoplifter steals car with children in it www.privateofficer.com
Shoplifter steals car with children in it www.privateofficer.com
Greece, N.Y. Nov. 19 2007– Police have apprehended a shoplifting suspect wanted for stealing a car with two children inside from the parking lot at the BJ’s Wholesale Club on Bellwood Drive in Greece.
Greece Police said, shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday, store security confronted Geraldine Motzer, 41, of Brockport, in a car after she left the store with a television set.
As the car’s driver spoke to security, Motzer got in a mini van that was running as the owner was loading it with groceries. She then took off in the van with two children inside.
Motzer dropped the children off on a porch at a home in Rochester. The homeowners called 911 to report that the children were there.
Rochester Police helped find the mini-van and Motzer was arrested.
Motzer faces several charges including robbery, grand larceny, kidnapping, and reckless endangerment.
She is currently on parole for grand larceny and has been remanded to Monroe County Jail without bail.
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Shoplifter kidnaps shopper during escape by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com
Shoplifter kidnaps shopper during escape by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com
Gilroy police late Friday were searching for a man they say kidnapped a woman after carjacking her vehicle on Camino Arroyo in the Kohl’s department store parking lot.
About 6 p.m., a security officer called police to report that a man had entered Kohl’s at 6765 Camino Arroyo and had begun stealing cologne.
The security officer followed the man outside. When the man noticed the security officer, he began running toward Mimi’s Cafe, about 100 yards away. With the security officer in pursuit, the man got into the front passenger side of a small gray sport-utility vehicle with a woman in the driver’s seat, said Sgt. Jim Gillio.
The security officer told police the woman threw her arms into the air and screamed, “What’s going on, what’s going on?” When the man started the car and put the vehicle in gear, the woman yelled, “Help me, help,” as he forced her to drive the car away, Gillio said.
The security officer chased the SUV on foot, but was unable to stop it.
The SUV had a license plate similar to 5ASV516 and a spare tire attached to the rear door. It was last seen heading west on 10th Street, possibly to Highway 101.
The suspect is described as Latino between 25 and 30 years old, about 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, with black hair, and a slight beard. He was wearing a black baseball cap with a white emblem, a green short-sleeve shirt with a white t-shirt underneath,black baggy pants, and white tennis shoes. The victim was a Latina in her 30s with dark shoulder-length hair. Police had not located a suspect, victim or vehicle late Friday.
Anyone with information was asked to call Gilroy police at (408) 846-0350.
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Shoplifter Collapes, Dies During Arrest www.privateofficer.com
Shoplifting Suspect Collapes, Dies During Arrest www.privateofficer.com
ZION — A Waukegan man in police custody collapsed during booking Wednesday and died later at a nearby hospital.
Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller said his office does not know what killed 37-year-old Allen Victorian.
Zion Il. Nov. 3 2007 Police arrested Victorian around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday following a report of shoplifting at Piggly Wiggly, 3341 Sheridan Road.
Victorian was at the police station for only a few minutes when he collapsed and later died at Midwestern Regional Medical Center in Zion, Police Chief Larry Booth said.
Keller’s office conducted an autopsy Thursday morning, but it didn’t yield a cause of death. He was awaiting toxicology tests late Thursday.
Victorian’s family told the News-Sun they were suspicious about his abrupt death. His bother, Derrick Victorian, said Allen was healthy.
“I just want some answers. I want to know what happened to him,” Derrick said.
Keller said there was no sign of trauma on Victorian’s body. “It does not appear he was abused or beaten,” he said.
Booth said officers had Victorian in custody for a short time. He was being held by Piggly Wiggly security personnel until officers arrived and took him to the police station.
Victorian died while in an open booking area, before the booking process could begin, Booth said.
Booth would not comment on the death, which is being investigated by the Lake County Major Crime Taskforce.
In addition to toxicology tests, Keller’s office is also awaiting a report from an outside lab. Such tests are standard when someone dies in police custody, Keller said.
Shoplifter Injures Baby Fleeing Security www.privateofficer.com
Shoplifter Injures Her Baby Fleeing Security www.privateofficer.com
Fort Smith Ar. Nov. 1, 2007
Fort Smith police are searching for a suspected shoplifter who evaded capture in a manner that may have injured her infant child.Police were dispatched to Central Mall at 4:45 p.m. Saturday in response to reports that two women shoplifted several hundred dollars in clothing from The Buckle, as well as apparel from Abercrombie & Fitch and Vanity.
Officer Derek Harwood met with store employees, mall security personnel and one of the suspects, 19-year-old Crystal Crowley, according to a police report.Buckle employee Mitzi Bailey told Harwood that she noticed Crowley and another white female with a baby and a stroller in the front dressing room. Bailey said she offered to help the women, but they declined when the infant began crying, according to the report.Bailey said she and co-worker Lacy Jiminez sifted through numerous pairs of jeans and shirts the customers left in the dressing room and found a T-shirt that was missing a security sensor and a pair of jeans with three sensors stuffed in one of its back pockets.Bailey said she and Jiminez were following both women through the mall when three Abercrombie & Fitch employees noticed and told them that the women had shoplifted from their store as well.
Bailey said she and her co-worker approached the suspected shoplifters and invited them back to their store to talk. She said Crowley complied, but the woman with the baby became highly defensive and left mall with her baby, the report states.Jiminez told Harwood that she and two security officers followed the suspect outside. She said the suspect approached a vehicle and threw the baby into a car seat inside, but did not strap the infant in. The suspect backed out of the parking space and almost struck security officer Larry Boyce, the report states.After the suspect backed out in the wrong direction, Jiminez said, she turned the wheel, causing the baby to fly out of the car seat and land hard on the floorboard on either its side or head, according to the report.
Crowley returned to The Buckle, Bailey said, and revealed each layer of her clothing, which included a pair of jeans from The Buckle and a shirt from Vanity. She said that Crowley admitted to stealing apparel from all three stores.Bailey told Harwood that $540 in merchandise was stolen and a shirt was torn in a spot where the sensor was located, according to the report.Harwood met with Abercrombie employee Amanda Cockrum, who told him that after Crowley was apprehended she walked to The Buckle and found the suspect wearing two tank tops with sensor holes in them. Crowley told the officer that her accomplice had torn tags from Abercrombie & Fitch clothing.Cockrum said that when Crowley and the other suspect left the store, she found that 32 sensors had been removed from stolen clothes and hidden in jean pockets.Another Abercrombie employee said five to six folded shirts could be seen in the bottom of the suspect’s stroller. Cockrum estimated the value of the stolen clothing at $1,000, the report states.Crowley was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting $500-$2,500.
The suspect who fled is described as a 19-year-old female with short, blond hair. Boyce described the suspect’s vehicle as small and box-like.Harwood traced the license plate to a maroon 2005 Toyota Scion, the report states.
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Shoplifter Stabs 2, Steals Cop Car by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com
Shoplifting Escalates, 1 Stabbed, Officer Injured by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com
Wilmington N.C. Nov. 1, 2007
What started as a petty shoplifting at Wal-Mart ended with the stabbing of an assistant manager, an injured police officer and the theft of a police vehicle on Tuesday, police said.
Shawn Lacy Thompson, 47, is charged with two charges of assault with a deadly weapon, robbery and larceny of a motor vehicle.Thompson has previous convictions for crimes that include larceny, speeding to elude arrest, receiving a stolen vehicle, assault on a female, breaking and entering and burglary.
About 11:17 a.m., a man shoplifted three DVDs from Wal-Mart at 5226 Sigmon Road, police said.Wal-Mart employees tried to apprehend the man in the parking lot, but it wasn’t until the man cut himself trying to scale a barbed-wire fence on the edge of the property that two assistant managers caught up with him, said Wilmington police spokeswoman Lucy Crockett.While a 30-year-old assistant manager restrained the suspect, the other one called 911.In the process, the suspect stabbed the 30-year-old assistant manager in the arm and leg, Crockett said. The assistant manager was taken to the hospital with puncture wounds, she said.Calls began to flood the 911 center as witnesses reported the incident. One witness briefly followed the suspect, providing a description to dispatchers, Crockett said.
The suspect ran away and was later spotted by a plainclothes officer near Miller-Motte College. The police officer, Christopher Mayo, 31, a five-year member of the police department, jumped out of his unmarked vehicle and tried to stop the suspect. The suspect overpowered the officer, hopped into the car and started to drive away. The vehicle contained a weapon and ammunition that were not easily accessible to the suspect, Crockett said.The police officer tried to prevent him from driving away, injuring his wrist, Crockett said.She said most marked squad cars are equipped with an anti-theft device, but that his vehicle was not.”Officers are frequently in situations where they jump out of the vehicle,” she said. “In patrol, they leave the car running but they have anti-theft devices.”The suspect drove the police vehicle to Princess Place Drive and Manly Avenue where he hit a fire hydrant, ditching the vehicle in a wooded area.In this case, Mayo had a “description of a violent person and he spotted the person,” she said. “His first concern was to try to get the guy, and it’s unfortunate that it got so dangerous.”
The suspect then ran into a nearby apartment in the 400 block of Henry Street where he was staying. Neighbors notified police where to find him and officers finally were able to subdue him and transport him to the city jail where he is being currently being held.
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Shoplifters Bite, Assault Store Security by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com
Monday, October 29, 2007
Shoplifters Bite, Assault Store Security by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com
Petaluma Ca. Oct. 29, 2007
Two Marin City residents were arrested Thursday after one of them allegedly stole items from a supermarket in the Gateway Shopping Center and they then scuffled with a security guard, said Sgt. Mark Hunter of the Petaluma Police Department.
A security guard in Lucky’s Supermarket at Lakeville Street and Caulfield Lane reportedly observed Michelle Suhrke, 31, put electronic equipment, alcohol and other items in her purse. Suhrke left the store at around 4:45 p.m. without paying for the items, and the security officer then approached her in the parking lot.When the security guard attempted to place her under citizens arrest for theft and started retrieving the items from her purse, Suhrke bit and struck the guard, and called for help from Richard Bonner, 37, who was waiting for her in the parking lot, Hunter said.
Bonner began assaulting the guard as all three people struggled for the purse containing the stolen items. The guard eventually was able to secure the purse, and the two suspects then ran to a parked car and drove off.The guard was able to obtain the license plates of their vehicle, and at around 9:30 p.m., deputies from the Marin County Sheriff’s Department located and arrested them at the request of Petaluma police.They were booked into Sonoma County Jail for attempted robbery, and Bonner also was held without bail for violating conditions of his parole.
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Gangs Target Shopping Malls www.privateofficer.com
Traveling Gangs Target Malls www.privateofficer.com
Oak Brook, IL – Oct. 26, 2007
Police this week arrested a woman who shoplifted more than $17,000 worth of merchandise, some from Oakbrook Center, and connected her to a retail theft ring traveling the country hitting malls.
Urrutia Carolina, 28, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was charged with felony retail theft and possession of stolen merchandise.
“They’re very good at it,” said Oak Brook Police Sgt. Tami Shuey, standing beside a table with the merchandise police found in a rental van after arresting the woman Tuesday night.
The store manager at Victoria’s Secret in Oakbrook Center, Route 83 and 22nd Street, called police after watching the woman leave the store with dozens of bras in a shopping bag without paying for them.
“Two people had just come in and cleaned out a shelving unit basically, a store cabinet thing,” Shuey said. “They filled up their bag, exited the store and while they were leaving they dropped a bra.”
Police said Carolina, like many sophisticated shoplifters, used a well-known device to get past the electronic detectors in the store.
Aided by Oakbrook Center security, police found Carolina hiding between cars in the parking lot, and eventually found her van with duffle bags full of merchandise. The bras stolen from Victoria’s Secret sold for $50 apiece or more.
A male helping Carolina got away, fleeing on foot, police said.
“We had documentation that within the last couple of days they have shipped out hundreds of pounds of merchandise through different avenues to different states,” Shuey said.
Oak Brook Police Chief Tom Sheahan said an intelligence unit he formed earlier this year with other police agencies alerted his department Tuesday the gang was in the area.
“It’s as organized as organized crime because it is organized crime,” Sheahan said. “They stay in hotels in the area at night, and then they go out and steal all day.”
Oak Brook Police Detective Tom Russell said such gangs hit one shopping center a day.
“They’ll stay at one mall one day and go to another mall the next day,” Russell said. “They’ve gotten away with it. Otherwise, they wouldn’t keep doing it.”
Sheahan said police are working with Limited Brands, Walgreens, Wal-Mart and other retailers to keep track of the gangs.
Shuey said the arrest this week is part of a gang of six individuals who keep returning to Oak Brook. Shuey said the van they found had a U.S. atlas with towns circled with malls in every state. Shuey said Illinois had 18 mall towns circled.
Oak Brook tactical officer Bob Christopherson said the couple hit only three stores Tuesday, and he said not all of the retailers had in-store security.
“They’ve been trained to call police when they see someone doing something suspicious,” Christopherson said. “They’re getting better at calling right away. The training worked well, I guess.”
Shuey added Carolina bonded out after posting a $75,000 bond.
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Alcoholic Falls Off Wagon; Gets Drunk At Walmart www.privateofficer.com
Alcoholic Falls Off Wagon, Gets Drunk At Walmart www.privateofficer.com
WAUKESHA WI -Oct. 25, 2007 A town of Eagle man who said he had quit drinking for more than a year was cited for retail theft at a Mukwonago Wal-Mart after he reportedly took seven bottles of alcohol off the store shelves and downed them in the liquor aisle in 15 minutes
The man, 43, was cited for retail theft after the incident at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, 250 E. Wolf Run, at about 5:30 p.m. Oct. 14, Mukwonago police records show.
Mukwonago Police Chief Fred Winchowky said the man was seen on store security video drinking seven 12-ounce bottles of Jack Daniels Lynchburg Lemonade in a 15-minute period. When confronted by a store official, the man initially denied it, but he smelled of intoxicants, Winchowky said.
Reviewing a police report on the matter, Winchowky added the man said he was a recovering alcoholic who’d been dry for 16 months until that date, when he went to the store with his wife, who was unaware of what he was doing.
“He went down that aisle and he said ‘I just couldn’t control myself,’” Winchowky said. “He stated he was upset he broke his 16-month streak and he didn’t know how he was going to tell his wife.”
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Mother arrested for shoplifting while infant in car www.privateofficer.com
Mother arrested for leaving infant in car while shoplifting www.privateofficer.com
FORT PIERCE, Fla. Oct. 25, 2007 — A Fort Pierce woman was arrested on Tuesday after police said she left her children, including an infant and two children under the age of 5, in a car while she was shoplifting.
Kasey Ozell Cooper was charged with retail theft and child neglect.
Another woman, Angelique McQuire, faces the same charges. McQuire said she was asked to watch the kids but decided to go into the store as well, according to deputies.
A 4-year-old, 3-year-old and 5-month-old were left unattended, deputies said.
Officials at Bealls said they caught the women and a teenager taking shirts, sweat shirts and sweat pants out of the store without paying. After bringing the shoplifters to the loss prevention office they were made away that there were young children left outside in the car and that’s when security notified police of the situation.
Cooper’s aunt went to the store to pick up the children after deputies arrived, according to officials.
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Lancaster area store security round up shoplifters www.privateofficer.com
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Lancaster area store security round up shoplifters www.privateofficer.com
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. Oct. 23, 2007 – Stopping and arresting suspected shoplifters kept the security staff at the East Lampeter Township Wal-Mart store and township police busy this past weekend.
Five men and women were arrested for retail-theft offenses at the 2034 Lincoln Highway East store on Saturday and Sunday, police said.
They were:• India Jeanine Matthews, 28, of 38 Garden Court Apartments. Security officers saw her fail to scan merchandise at the store’s self-checkout at about 6 p.m. Saturday, police said. The woman would pass the items over the scanner, but not scan them, police said. She allegedly left the store without paying for $29.54 worth of clothing items, police said.Matthews was charged with retail theft and turned over to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s department on an existing bench warrant.•
Stephanie Corinne Torres, 30, of 720 6th St. Police said she placed an envelope over the scanner and then passed merchandise over the envelope, which blocked the scanner from recognizing the merchandise.The security staff detained Torres at about 8 p.m. Saturday after she allegedly tried to take groceries, pet food, and toys having a total value of $26.95, police said. She was cited for retail theft and released to Lancaster City police on several existing warrants.•
Gerald Paul Allison, 22, of the 1300 block of North Colebrook Road, Manheim. He allegedly tried to take a $169 Phillips DVD player from the Wal-Mart store shortly before 9 p.m. Monday, East Lampeter police said.Allison ran from store employees, but was caught and found with hypodermic needles, police said. He was charged with misdemeanor retail theft and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.•
A 16-year-old East Lampeter Township boy who allegedly left the Wal-Mart store at 2:35 p.m. Saturday without paying for computer flash drives and a set of earphones valued at $61.81, police said. The boy was cited for summary retail theftand released to a guardian.• A 15-year-old Leola girl who allegedly left the store at 8 p.m. Sunday without paying for two packages of perfume, valued at $42.75, that she concealed in her purse. She was cited for retail theft and released to her mother.Last Wednesday, East Lampeter police arrested a Wal-Mart employee for suspected theft.
Police said store security saw Tonya Ann Smith, 35, of 63 S. Franklin St., remove money from her register and place it in her pocket.Store management reported that the theft had been ongoing for some time with the amount exceeding $500. Smith was processed and released with theft charges being filed against her, police said.In other shoplifting incidents:•
Lancaster state police received word Saturday afternoon that a man and two women had left the Valley View Country Store, 3622 Old Philadelphia Pike, at Intercourse, without paying for a “large amount of antique items.”The theft was reported at 2:30 p.m. The man and one woman were young adults. The other woman looked to be about 50, police said.•
Shortly after 6:30 a.m. Saturday, West Hempfield Township police received word that a shoplifting suspect was fighting with employees at the Redner’s Market store at Columbia Avenue and Prospect Road.Police arrested Samuel Leonard Warren Jr., 39, Lancaster, at the scene. He was committed to Lancaster County Prison on a probation detainer, and Officer James Gardill is charging him with retail theft.•
Lancaster police arrested Mary E. Sterling, 79, of 13 Apple Lane, Mountville, and a 17-year-old girl for retail-theft offenses Sunday afternoon at the Sears store, Park City shopping center.Sterling allegedly failed to pay for six necklaces and four bracelets valued at about $152, Officer Joseph Graczyk said. The 17-year-old allegedly concealed two pairs of jeans, valued at about $40, in a baby stroller, Officer Jerry Hess said.•
At about 4:45 p.m. Saturday, a man ran out of the LIDS Outlet store, on Stanley K. Tanger Blvd. (Tanger Outlet Center) without paying for three baseball bats, valued at $93.97 that he grabbed from a display, East Lampeter Township police said. He was last scene fleeing in a teal Dodge Stratus.
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Shoplifter says he steals for something to do www.privateofficer.com
Shoplifter said he steals” for something to do ” www.privateofficer.com
Akron Oh. Oct. 23, 2007
Loss prevention officers at an area mall said that they have heard many reasons why a shoplifter says that they shoplift but recently an apprehended suspect gave them a new reason. One that was as funny as it was dumb. It seems that the suspect who was later identified as
Johnny Otis Brown, 55, of Barberton, was charged Oct. 10 with theft. He is accused of taking a $60 earring from Macy’s in Summit Mall . When loss prevention agents attempted to detain Brown he immediately resisted an a struggle ensued but he was finally taken into custody and admitted that he had taken some jewelry. Police said Brown told them he took the earring because it ”gave him something to do.”
Police and loss prevention personnel are investigating how many other times Brown might have been looking for something to do as they determine what else he has shoplifted from area retailers.
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RETAIL SECURITY/ LOSS PREVENTION NEWS ROUND-UP “PART TWO” by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com
RETAIL SECURITY/LOSS PREVENTION NEWS ROUND -UP PART TWO BY; RICK MCCANN http://www.privateofficer.com
FLORENCE KY. April Tucker, 31, Florence, shoplifting totaling less than $300, Sept. 16.
Judy Corballa, 24, Florence, shoplifting totaling less than $300, Sept. 16.
Brian K. Switzer, 34, Florence, shoplifting totaling less than $300, fleeing or evading police second degree, Sept. 16.
CARLSBAD, N.M. Bradley Cook, 26, of Torrance Circle, charged with shoplifting over $250 and under $2,500, contempt of court, failure to appear and shoplifting over $250 and under $500.
Lee Elmore, 34, of the 500 block of West Bronson, charged with shoplifting under $100.
NASHVILLE TN. Retailers, police and loss prevention agents nationwide are noticing a dramatic increase in “group” shoplifting. Families, groups of friends and organized shoplifters are banning together more frequently to steal larger items from stores and hitting the same retailer more than once. Some are shoplifting quanities of items to sell on E-Bay or at flea-markets or other on line market places while other groups are shoplifting merchandise for personal use. Although it has always been a problem for retail security, it is now becoming a much more agressive form of shoplifting causing alarm and bringing with it the potential for higher injuries to the loss prevention officer making the apprehension.
LEBANON PA. FORGERY: Joshua Zimmerman, 24, no known address, was charged with forgery, possession of a controlled substance and criminal attempt after an incident at Wal-Mart, 1355 E. Lehman St., at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5, police said this week.
Charged were: Jayson Patches, 19, of 895 Richard Drive; Tyler Bender, 19, of 102 Racehorse Drive, Jonestown; and Christian Vasquez, 18, of 2320 Route 72 North, police said. Vasquez was also charged with theft, accused of taking cash and a credit card from a purse at Wal-Mart, 1355 E. Lehman St., on Aug. 29, police said.
THEFT: A purse belonging to Amanda Lutz, 729 State Drive, South Lebanon Township, was taken between 11 and 11:30 a.m. Sunday while she was shopping at Wal-Mart, 1355 E. Lehman St., she told police Wednesday. A cell phone and other items worth $200 were in the purse.
STRAFORD N.J. The Stratford Police Department arrested two people Saturday afternoon in the Warwick Shopping Center, according to authorities.
Police were called to the Rite Aid and arrested Donna Meyer, of Stratford, for stealing merchandise valued at around $70. Police also found cocaine and drug paraphernalia after searching Meyer. She is being charged with shoplifting, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to police. Shortly after making the first arrest, police responded to Incollingo’s Stratford Market and arrested Marvin K. Williams, of Lawnside, for shoplifting. Williams was spotted trying to steal roughly $80 worth of meat and was chased from the store by the manager. Police were able to track Williams to Homestead Road, where he was arrested.
ANDERSON S.C. — Two admitted crack cocaine users were fined $1087.50 each after workers at Ingles in Anderson caught them trying to steal boxes of Bayer Aspirin valued at $130.
Curtis Hill, 36, and Laura Sibert, 37, were arrested at 1:35 a.m. Friday at the 1900 North Main Street grocery store.
Both pleaded guilty to shoplifting about 8:30 a.m. Friday in Anderson City Municipal Court.
Shortly before Mr. Hill and Ms. Sibert were ordered into orange jumpsuits at the Anderson City Jail, Mr. Hill was observed putting 32 boxes of the pills in his pant’s leg. Ms. Sibert was seen putting the pills in her shirt.
Judge Hugh Welborn ordered an additional level of security at Ingles, putting Mr. Hill and Ms. Sibert on permanent trespass notice.
ROCKLAND — A 20-year-old Rockland woman was arrested Thursday afternoon for robbery, after police said a failed shoplifting incident turned violent.
Amanda French was arrested by Rockland police for Class A robbery, Deputy Rockland Police Chief Wallace Tower said.According to Tower, French and a 16-year-old girl from South Thomaston were confronted in the parking lot outside J.C. Penney on Maverick Street by two store security employees. French and the girl had shoplifted $318 in items, Tower said.The two tried to get into a car with other people, when a scuffle ensued with the security personnel. Police were called and located the vehicle.The two store security workers suffered minor injuries and were planning to see a doctor, but did not require a visit to the hospital, Tower said. French also suffered minor injuries, but did not require medical attention, he said.The 16-year-old girl was charged with theft, Tower added.
BAINBRIDGE GA. On August 26 about 3pm,Officer Taylor Mills was called to Walmart for shoplifters in custody. Security told the officer that John and another juvenile took razor blades from a package and was attempting to take some MP3 players from the locked glass case. Both juveniles were issued ban notices for Walmart.John was released to his mother.
ACORN CA. Suzanne Haffamier, an English teacher at Calabasas High School, is facing up to three years in jail for shoplifting $15 worth of groceries from an Albertsons supermarket, authorities said.
Haffamier, 53, was arrested Oct. 1 at the grocery store on Lindero Canyon Road for allegedly stealing sushi, soda and a bottle of alcohol, said Detective Victor Paladino from Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station.
The charge of “petty theft with a prior” elevates the shoplifting charge from an infraction or misdemeanor to a felony, Paladino said. A first offense for petty theft is usually charged as a misdemeanor when the value of the property stolen is between $50 and $400, according to legal experts. If the total value of stolen merchandise is less than $50, the perpetrator may be charged with an infraction.
Haffamier reportedly was convicted of petty theft once before. If Haffamier served at least one day in jail, the second offense is filed as a felony, Paladino said.
Details of Haffamier’s first conviction were not available. Haffamier’s attorney, Monique Hoffmayer, could not be reached for comment.
According to a criminal defense attorney not involved with the case, Haffamier faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison, although he believes that outcome is unlikely.
Paladino expects Haffamier will most likely face a stiff fine rather than jail time.
Jack Parham, an attorney representing the Las Virgenes Unified School District, said Haffamier has been placed on leave of absence from her teaching post until the legal matter is resolved.
Haffamier’s preliminary hearing is scheduled at Los Angeles Superior Court in Van Nuys on Oct. 16.
Haffamier also taught English and directed music productions at Agoura High School. She was the director of the West Valley Ballet Company for more than 20 years and was also a former member of the San Francisco Ballet.
HILLSBORO TX. Two Hillsboro women were picked up on theft charges after Hillsboro police were called to Outlets at Hillsboro.Officers responded to the Burks Outlet about 1:30 p.m. Monday, October 8.The theft charge on 48-year-old Lena Gatewood was enhanced to a felony due to previous convictions. Her bond was set at $10,000 by Municipal Court Judge Florence Logan.A 46-year-old woman was also charged in connection with the investigation. Her bond was set at $1,000.
CINCINNATI, OH. — Two people are hospitalized in connection with a shoplifting incident that ended in a crash late Wednesday.
Police said Rochelle Burton, 46, was seen taking some items from a Walgreens on West Corry Avenue just after 10 p.m.
Police said that when security tried to stop her, Burton ran from the store and jumped into a waiting car.
While driving away, police said, the car’s driver tried to run down a security guard, who was a Cincinnati police officer.
Officers gave chase until the car crashed into a ditch on Burnet Woods Drive, ejecting Burton nearly 100 feet.
Burton and John Penny, 42, were transported to University Hospital for treatment. Their conditions have not been released.
Both will likely be charged at a later date.
DETROIT MI. A Home Depot security guard helped police arrest a Detroit man accused of bilking a 81-year-old Warren woman out of $220.
Warren police Detective Sgt. Michael Torey praised Home Depot loss prevention officer Michael Luttenberger for identifying a man who approached a woman in the store and offered to get her lower prices on doors.
Luttenberger played back a store videotape of the man, who was seen taking the money from the woman and then leaving in a beige conversion van.
Torey said Luttenberger recognized the man a week later in the Home Depot on Hoover Road and called police. The man, identified as Gregory Allan West, 55, was charged Thursday in 37th District Court with larceny by conversion, a 1-year misdemeanor.
“The store detective did an outstanding job remembering what the man looked like and getting a picture of him from the store surveillance camera,” said Torey. “West returned to the Home Depot at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday and was put on surveillance by Mr. Luttenberger until our officers arrived to arrest him.”
Torey said the woman was shopping for doors at the Home Depot at noon Oct. 4 when she was approached by a man who introduced himself as James. The man, who claimed to be a contractor, told her that he could buy the doors cheaper and install them.
Torey said the woman gave him $220 and he told her to stay by the doors and he would return. The woman waited 30 minutes, said Torey, but the man never returned.
Torey said West denied any knowledge of the transaction. He later told police that the woman came up to him and asked if he could buy windows and install them for her.
West has a lengthy criminal history. In 1992 he pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rob in Detroit. In 1997 he was convicted of larceny by conversion in Oak Park. In 1999 he was convicted of larceny over $100, and in 2004 was convicted in Warren of uttering and publishing.
WOODLANDS TX. On October 6, Deputy A. Cross was notified of a theft at the Burke’s Outlet in the 23700 block of Hwy 59. Upon arrival, Dep. Cross met with the loss prevention officer who was detaining a woman. Dep. Cross was advised that another woman involved in the theft was in the Kroger parking lot. Dep. Cross located the other suspect. The two women had taken a total of $447.95 worth of merchandise and left the store without paying. The loss prevention officer confronted them outside the store when they fled. One of the suspects, 19, was from Porter and the other, 17, from New Caney, were arrested at 7:41 p.m. and transported to jail. A third person, a man, involved in the incident was confronted by Deputy P. Cassidy, who during his investigation, discovered an illegal knife being carried by the man. The items stolen by the women were discovered in the vehicle the man was found in. The 50-year-old man from New Caney was arrested at 6:15 p.m. and transported to jail.
On October 6, Deputy C. Evans was sent to the Wal-Mart in Porter in reference to a theft. Dep. Evans met with the loss prevention officer who was detaining a man for shop lifting a total of $82.72 worth of merchandise. The 25-year-old man from Porter was arrested at 10:30 p.m. and transported to jail.
LINDEN N.J. — A man and two women from Essex County who police say went on a three-store shoplifting spree were arrested in Linden Saturday after one of them allegedly assaulted a store security officer who had tried to stop them from leaving the store.
Police said the security officer’s left arm and shoulder were injured so badly that she was unable to write and had to be taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway for treatment.
And police said they recovered more than $200 worth of merchandise taken from the store in Linden, along with merchandise from a Woodbridge store. Police said they also recovered three leather jackets from a Macy’s store but did not know the store’s location.
Linden police were called to the Marshalls store at Aviation Plaza, 625 W. Edgar Road, around 9:30 p.m. Saturday for a report of a fight outside the store. When police arrived. they found the store’s loss-prevention officer, standing outside the store out-of-breath, according to Linden Lt. Raymond Tyra.
Police said a woman wearing a long robe had placed merchandise from the store under the robe. When she started to leave the store, the loss-prevention officer tried to stop her, but the shoplifter grabbed the 24-year-old security officer by the arm, twisted it behind her back, and pushed her down to the ground.
According to the police account, the shoplifter told her companions to “go get the car,” before all three ran to a vehicle and left the area. The injured officer provided police with the license-plate number of the vehicle.
Officers Dave Manganiello and Don Geisheimer stopped the vehicle traveling on routes 1 and 9. Inside were three people, including a female passenger who fit the description of the woman who had taken the items from the Marshalls store, police said.
Among the items recovered belonging to the Marshalls store were pajamas, a white sweater dress, a Linea Donna leather jacket worth $100, Baby Phat jeans, Willie Esco jeans worth $59 and a weatherproof leather jacket. The merchandise from Marshalls was worth a total of $204.96, police said.
Inside the vehicle, police found three white plastic bags, two from the K&G Men’s Store in Woodbridge. The bags contained a sweater vest and two pairs of pajamas. Police also recovered a Macy’s bag containing three leather jackets.
Arrested were Victor Murray, 40, of Newark, the driver of the vehicle, Jamila Clark, 45, of Irvington, the woman accused of shoplifting the items from the Marshalls store, and Sharee Bass, 48, of Newark.
All three were charged with robbery, assault and theft. Bail was set at $60,000 each. Murray was also charged with not having a driver’s license and driving while his license was revoked. They were all taken the Union County Jail in Elizabeth, police said.
MILLVILLE-N.J. – Jacquel M. Bowser, 18, of Sassafras Street, was charged Friday with shoplifting. She was released on her own recognizance.
Cynthia Bodden, 41, of Pheasant Run, was charged Friday with shoplifting. She was released on her own recognizance.
MOULTRIE GA. — Employees at Wal-Mart on South Veterans Parkway reported two thieves were seen on security footage stealing Apple iPods Friday night.
An officer was called to Wal-Mart about 7:55 p.m. Friday and met with the employees as they were reviewing the security footage. The video showed a black female and a black male in the electronics department, and the female used a key to open the glass case where the iPods are kept.
The two thieves were seen stealing six black iPod Nanos, six green iPod Nanos and two iPods. They were then seen taking the items to the sporting goods section and deactivating the security strip.
The two thieves were then shown going to the registers where they bought a drink then left the store. They were captured on the video leaving in a white Ford Explorer, but the tag number was not given to the officer.
The value of the stolen iPods was about $2,871. The video and pictures of the Explorer were collected as evidence.
These thefts helped bring the cash value of weekend crime to nearly $5,000.
SHELBYVILLE TN. A man accused of shoplifting says his alleged accomplices fled, leaving him behind, when Dollar General Market personnel approached them Monday afternoon.
Amanda Evans, 22, and Tasha Evans, 19, who were with Anthony Johnson, 22, deny his claims, saying he was doing the shoplifting.
Store personnel told police the three, all of Bell Buckle, were working together and they have the video to prove it.
Johnson was apprehended at the scene and the women at a residence near Deason.
Each was charged with first offense shoplifting under $100, police say.
*A police officer says he saw a man reach toward cigarettes while a counter at Walgreen’s, North Main Street, was left unattended Monday.
Teurean Ashanti Maxwell, 25, Tate Street, had two packs in a pocket when Lt. Mike Baker checked moments later.
The cigarettes cost Maxwell a night in jail. He was being held Tuesday on a theft of property charge at Bedford County Jail pending $500 bond.
BALDWIN PARK, – Detectives are investigating an officer involved shooting that left a suspect hospitalized in serious condition.The incident happened Thursday night in the parking lot of a target store at 3100 Baldwin Park Boulevard in Baldwin Park.
Police were notified of a possible shoplifting suspect at the store.
When the suspect and an accomplice left the store, officers confronted them in the parking lot.
Investigators say one suspect reportedly pulled out a gun and started running, and that’s when officers fired.
There’s no word on whether police arrested the second suspect.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Investigators have been following strong leads in search of the suspect who shot and killed store owner Gene Kim. They have a big piece of evidence – the store surveillance tape.
Officials said they did not believe the store was robbed. They continue to investigate reports that the shooting was connected to an argument in the market earlier in the evening.
Witnesses told investigators the argument that led to the Kim’s murder was about shoplifting.
Tanya Smith lit a candle at the doorway of the Shop-N-Save market in memory of Gene Kim.
“It’s just… something from the heart,” Smith told NewsChannel 5. “I mean, like I said – it was hard to believe. I couldn’t believe it.”
Kim died Thursday night inside the market he owned on County Hospital Road in Bordeaux.
Surveillance video shows Kim was reading his Bible when a suspect entering the store.
There may have been an exchange of words before the suspect shot Kim in the head.
“It seemed like he’d get along with everybody, so that was just uncalled for. It doesn’t make sense at all,” said Loretta Bridges, who lives near the store.
“I mean, you walk into door… he’s just smiling and he would play with anybody’s kids – not only mine… anybody’s kids. He’d take right up with them right when you came through the door,” said frequent customer Leslie Garner.
Friends said Kim frequently read his bible. He was a deacon at the Nashville Korean Presbyterian Church on Franklin Pike.
Pastor Shin Kang said in a time like this there is not much you can do other than to pray for Kim’s wife, daughter and son.
“Other than just being there with them, holding their hands – words are not appropriate,” said Kang.
Friends said what they will remember most about Kim is how much he loved children.
Deondra Key lives across the street from the store. He said Kim would give him a little money when he’d do little chores around the store.
“It was sad, real sad. I miss him,” Deondra said.
Witnesses told police the suspect left the area in a red Pontiac Grand Am.
Police said anyone with information about the murder or shoplifting should call Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME. If the information you have results in an arrest and prosecution you could receive up to $1,000.
TYLER TX. Tyler Police say a shoplifting case has prompted a cocaine-related arrest. Police were called to Wal-Mart Super Center on Troup Highway regarding three suspects allegedly trying to shoplift a television in an empty box. All three were arrested, including Quentin Gardner, 34, of Overton. Gardner was charged with possession of 26.5 grams of powder cocaine, 102 grams or 3.6 ounces of crack cocaine, and 11 grams of marijuana, all first degree felony charges. Police say he also had $2,350 in cash in a shaving kit along with drug paraphernalia. Additionally, Gardner had outstanding warrants for violation of parole, possession of a firearm, engaging in organized crime, and possession of a controlled substance. Renee Harrison, 33, of Tyler was charged with theft, a class A misdemeanor. Jason Jevic, 28, of Tyler was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. All three suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Smith County Jail.
NEW BEDFORD MA. — Carlos Felix, a local community activist and unsuccessful political candidate, was arrested this week on shoplifting charges in Dartmouth.
Mr. Felix, 33, of 21 Social St., New Bedford, is charged with trying to steal a $350 tool set from Sears at the Dartmouth Mall. He allegedly carried the merchandise outside the store, according to police reports.
Mr. Felix, who was arraigned Monday in New Bedford District Court, ran as an independent for state representative from the 13th Bristol District last year. He also founded the local watchdog group Citizens in Action for Progress. He said he considered running for City Council this year but decided against it.
Mr. Felix attributed his shoplifting arrest Monday to kleptomania, which he said drives him to steal. He also said he has been battling anxiety.
“It’s hard to explain to someone who doesn’t understand the feeling of being compelled to take something,” Mr. Felix told The Standard-Times.
“Something triggered inside of me. It’s like I did not know I was doing something improper,” he said. “Basically, I made a mistake.”
His latest legal problem could reopen a marijuana possession case that was continued without a finding last summer. In June, he pleaded nolo contendere, meaning that he admitted sufficient facts of the case.
The marijuana possession charges were to be dismissed in June 2008 as long Mr. Felix was not arrested on any new charges.
The Probation Department at New Bedford District Court will decide whether he violated the terms of his no-contest plea.
According to court records, a Sears loss prevention officer reported seeing a man behaving “suspiciously” in the tool section around 11:30 a.m. Monday. The officer saw the man pick up a 238-piece tool set and walk past the registers.
Another loss prevention officer who was stationed outside the store stopped the man as he left the building and ordered him to return to the manager’s office, court records said.
Mr. Felix said he never left the store. He said he was going “in and out” out of the door, struggling with his impulses.
“I was fighting my demons,” he said.
Dartmouth police officers arrived and arrested Mr. Felix. On the way to police headquarters, Mr. Felix told the officers he has a mental disease that causes him to steal, court records said. He also told the officers he had not done anything like that in a long time.
Mr. Felix was arrested Dec. 1, 2006, in New Bedford after a police officer observed him and another man sitting in a parked car near McGurk and Ruth streets. Having detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the car, the officer searched Mr. Felix and found a small amount of marijuana in his pants pocket, according to court records.
Mr. Felix said that he has since stopped smoking marijuana, which he said helped him cope with his anxiety.
“I’ve been trying to better myself, and here I am doing this idiotic, stupid thing,” he said. “It’s like I woke up in a jail cell, and I thought, ‘What happened?”
RETAIL SECURITY/LOSS PREVENTION NEWS ROUND-UP by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com
RETAIL SECURITY/LOSS PREVENTION NEWS ROUND-UP BY; RICK MCCANN www.privateofficer.com
Garner, N.C. Angela Shante Peebles, 22, of Raleigh, was arrested Sept. 28 at Super K-Mart at 4300 Fayetteville Rd. on charges of shoplifting. Hair products valued at $21 were involved in the incident.
Lorris Ewayne Davis, 52, of Raleigh, was arrested Sept. 28 at Super K-Mart on charges of shoplifting. Martha Stewart bedding valued at $231 was involved in the incident.
Splata Rafaela Aria, 37, of Raleigh, was cited Oct. 1 at Super K-Mart at on shoplifting charges. More than $40 in clothing was involved in the incident.
Gary Lee Burden, 42, of Garner, was arrested Oct. 2 on shoplifting charges.
A minor was arrested Oct. 2 at Target at 2700 Timber Dr. on shoplifting charges. During the incident, $30 in cash was recovered.
Katrina Williams, 20, and Lashawn Lauri Felton, 20, both of Raleigh, were arrested Oct. 4 at Super K-Mart on shoplifting charges. Clothing valued at $117 was involved in the incident.
Westminister CO. A mother and son allegedly tried to take a vacuum off the shelves and return it for a refund at Wal-Mart, 200 136th Ave. in Westminster at 6:50 p.m. Oct. 10. According to the report, the mother and son were in the store, when the son allegedly took the vacuum off the shelf and took it to customer service to try and get a refund for it. Store clerk officials became suspicious when he didn’t have a receipt and had two prior instances of trying to return goods without receipts. Store cameras allegedly showed the two walking into the store, without the vacuum and then the man taking it off the shelf. After saying that they were returning the vacuum because they never used it, they allegedly eventually admitted to the offense.
Nacogdoches TX. Aggravated robbery, 1215 North St., Kroger. An officer working security saw someone leaving the store with several thirty packs of beer without paying. The person then got into a vehicle and the vehicle hit the officer, but not seriously injuring him, according to the report. The vehicle was later located on Houston Street and the occupants, Kevin Cook, 31, of 3212 Appleby Sand Road and Jeremy Shirley, 23, of P.O. Box 235, fled on foot only to be later captured at the University Drive Chevron. They were found to be in possession of a stolen can of boat gas that had been taken from a boat on Martinsville Street, and they were arrested for aggravated robbery.
Lubbouck TX. A man is behind bars this morning after allegedly stealing four quarts of oil from a Lubbock convenience store. Police arrested the suspect around 12:45 a.m. Friday at the Town & Country at 82nd and I-27.
Officers put him in the back of a police cruiser, but he allegedly kicked out the window and took off running. Police chased the man down, strapped him to a board, and took him to jail in the paddy wagon.
Indianapolis IN. A suspected shoplifter who ran from a Southside Kmart store late this afternoon was apprehended after a short chase by store security and officers, police said.
Two men accused of shoplifting beer at Kmart, 2715 Madison Ave., ran out of the store, said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Sgt. Doug Forest. One fled on foot and the other drove off in a van, he said.Store security and police officers pursued the suspect in the van until he parked the vehicle in the 2600 block of Brill Street, Forest said. Officers then arrested him, he said.The man’s name was not immediately known. The suspect who fled on foot was not caught, police said.
FRAMINGHAM MA.
A Framingham man admitted he shoplifted at an Edgell Road liquor store on Wednesday, but his lawyer said today it was not an armed robbery.Christian Candelario, 23, did not threaten Datti’s Liquor’s clerk Daniel Doirado with a bottle of liquor as police allege, defense lawyer Michael Brennan said during this morning’s Framingham District Court arraignment.”All he wanted to do was give the bottle back, he wasn’t using it to threaten the clerk,” said Brennan. “It was a stupid thing to do. He knows what he did and he knows what he did was stupid, but it’s just not an armed robbery.”Candelario walked into the liquor store at 5:14 p.m. and slipped a bottle of liquor into his book bag, prosecutor Michael Rubin said. When confronted by Doirado, Candelario appeared to be panicked and lifted the bottle over his head in a threatening manner. Candelario then ran from the store, but left his bag.”There were several items within the bag, and they (police) were able to use that to track Mr. Candelario,” Rubin said.Among the items were Framingham District Court probation paperwork, as well as receipts for money orders. Candelario turned himself in at the station at 7:57 last night.Candelario, of 915 Edgell Road, was charged with armed robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon. Judge Robert Greco ordered him held on $500 bail. Candelario is due back in court on Nov. 13 for a pretrial conference.
SECAUCUS N.J.– A Carlstadt woman who was shoplifting clothing from a Kohl’s store Tuesday faces a charge of child abuse and neglect because her 3-year-old child was with her at the time, police said.
The mother and another Carlstadt woman were charged with shoplifting $441 worth of clothing.
Detective Capt. John Buckley said police were called to the store at the Mill Creek Mall on a complaint that two women had been piling clothes into a shopping cart, covering them with bags, and trying to remove them from the store without paying. Police took Giorgina Kirner, 26, and Francisca Ramirez, 66, into custody, issued them summonses and released them.
Kirner, who was accompanied by her child, faces the additional child neglect charge in state Superior Court.
JACKSONVILLE TX. Patrick Neely and Johnny Marquez, both 32, were arrested Saturday afternoon after attempting to steal approximately $700 worth of merchandise from Wal-Mart.“There were eight different items they were attempting to steal — a 22-inch television, some computer hardware, some batteries, a battery charger, a video game, an Xbox wireless adapter, some memory sticks and coaxial cable,” Franklin said. “They had some Wal-Mart plastic bags, and they went down the aisles, placed items into the bags like they had already purchased the items and then walked out of the store through the automotive department side-door.”
Four other people were also arrested for shoplifting from the store this weekend, including two juveniles. Franklin said a loss prevention task force visited the Jacksonville Wal-Mart this weekend.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Police say a man who claimed to be a New York City detective stole more than $500 in video games from a store at the Lehigh Valley Mall. Police say 23-year-old Samuel H. Weeks Jr., of Ridgewood, N.Y., placed 10 video games in a backpack while he was in Game Stop around 6 p.m. on Oct. 9. After he was arrested, authorities say Weeks claimed to be a detective with the New York City police. But a department spokesman says no one by that name works there. Weeks has been arraigned on charges of retail theft and sent to Lehigh County Prison under $5,000 bail.
PARIS, Mo. - High winds from a possible tornado struck rural northeastern Missouri early Thursday, killing a couple in a mobile home, authorities said. Several twisters hit in the southwest part of the state without causing major damage.
A tornado also touched down in the Florida Panhandle on Thursday, damaging the city’s major shopping mall as a line of violent thunderstorms made their way across the state’s western Panhandle.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Eddie English Jr., a department store clerk, said he heard the wind outside the store suddenly speed up and get louder. Then mall security guards entered the store and ordered about 200 to 300 employees and shoppers to evacuate to the basement.
Lindsey Lassiter, manager of the mall’s Express for Men store, said the ceiling in her store was damaged and that water was pouring in.
Jack Cullen, a meteorologist with the U.S. National Weather Service in Mobile, Ala., confirmed that a tornado touched down shortly before noon.
NEW HARTFORD N.Y.- A family of four has been charged in relation to a theft of over $700 worth of merchandise from JC Penney at Sangertown Square mall.New Hartford Police were called to the store after store loss prevention officers observed four people stealing from the store. Loss prevention subsequently stoped the four individuals who were identified as Nicole Fallon, 26, Elizabeth Woodard, 17, Carl Wright, 50, and Edna Wright, 59, all of whom are related and reside together in Rome, for stealing store merchanidse consisting of clothing.When police arrived, all four were taken into custody at which time the vehicle that they were traveling in was found to contain stolen property form retail stores located in the city of Utica, Village of Whitesboro, and several other stores in the Town of New Hartford, all of which was in addition to what the family was observed taknig at JC Penney.Upon the arrest, police officers searched the vehicle that the family arrived at JC Pennye’s in, where over $1,500 worth of stolen clothing taken frmo the other stores was recovered.All four were charged with petit larceny, which is a misdemeanor for the theft at JC Penney.All four were additionally charged with one count of criminal possession of stolen property int he fourth-degree, for being in possession of the stolen clothing from the stores in the City of Utica, Village of Whitebsoro, and Town of New Hartford.All four subjects were taken to the New Hartford POlice Department, where they were processed on the charges and where 125 pieces of stolen merchandise were inventoried and later returned to the respective stores from which they were taken.Allf our will answer these charges in the Town of New Hartford Court at a later date.
AUSTIN TX. Highland Mall security guards face scrutiny after a shoplifting incident Monday afternoon.
Sheree King fled police and mall security after they questioned her for shoplifting.
Brian Hinojosa said he was driving away from the mall when King jumped into his car, and then a mall security guard pepper-sprayed him.
A spokesman for the security company said on the phone the officer felt he was in danger.
Yet the driver said he was just an innocent man leaving the mall after a shopping trip.
“There has to be some kind of policies and procedures, not just, ‘Hey pull out your deal, and just start spraying!’” Hinojosa said. “I mean, there’s got to be something else besides that, but, you know, hey, that’s just me.”
“Our officer ordered the driver to turn the vehicle off, and the driver failed to comply,” said Larry Reuben, spokesman for Allied Barton Security.
Hinojosa said he’s contacted a lawyer for legal action.
Police took King into custody for evading arrest.
POHATCONG TWP. PA. A man allegedly broke into the Phillipsburg Mall on Oct. 10, township police report.
Barry Deans, 43, with addresses in Roosevelt, N.Y. and Maxton, N.C., is charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools and criminal mischief. Police said mall security officers saw the suspect in the mall about 1:52 a.m. and called 911. Township police responded and arrested Dean, authorities said. Police said he pried open an entrance into the mall.
VERNON HILLS IL. — A local man suspected of sexually assaulting a young woman last July in the parking lot of the Target store on Townline Road was arrested last week after he allegedly attempted a retail theft and was recognized by an employee.
The sex assault occurred around 8:30 p.m. July 3 in the target parking lot at 313 Townline Road. The 23-year-old victim said she was walking to her vehicle in a remote area of the parking lot when a man confronted her and then sexually assaulted her. She was treated and released from Condell Medical Center, Libertyville.
On Oct. 9, a loss prevention agent at Target recognized the male from the store’s surveillance cameras and observed him commit a retail theft, said James Levicki, crime prevention officer with the Vernon Hills Police Department.
Jose A. Gutierrez, 31, of 357 Farmingdale Circle, Vernon Hills, was arrested for the retail theft, and police investigators questioned him about the sexual assault.
“Our hats are off to the loss prevention agents at Target for helping us identify the offender in this case,” said Police Chief Mark Fleischhauer.
“This just goes to show how much of a difference one person can make when you choose to get involved,” he said.
Gutierrez was charged with one count of criminal sexual abuse and one count of criminal sexual assault and is being held in Lake County jail in lieu of $500,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Lake County Circuit Court at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 9, police said.
VINELAND N.J. — Police filed a shoplifting complaint but could not locate Alvin G. Graves, 44, of the 1200 block of Mayfair Street following an incident at Rite Aid at Delsea Drive and Landis Avenue Sunday morning.
Graves allegedly dropped his identification when he left the store with a $19.99 beard trimmer around 11 a.m. and left in a white Oldsmobile.
Police found the car a short time later at Seventh Street and Landis Avenue, but Graves could not be located. He was mailed a summons charging him with shoplifting. Graves was charged with shoplifting Oct. 10 at Rite Aid in the 500 block of Landis Avenue, police said.
In other recent shoplifting arrests:
Rufus Gist, 45, of Villa Avenue was charged with shoplifting items valued at $24 at the Delsea ShopRite Sunday afternoon.
Rodney J. Gibson, 46, of the 300 block of Linwood Avenue was charged with shoplifting $177 in merchandise, including three packages of Crest White Strips, at the Delsea ShopRite on Sunday morning.
Heriberto Garcia, 27, of the 300 block of North Pearl Street in Bridgeton was charged with shoplifting cologne valued at $186 at Boscov’s in Cumberland Mall Friday. Garcia was served warrants for failure to appear in Vineland and Bridgeton municipal courts.
