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Employee charged with felony thefts www.privateofficer.com

2008-04-06T08:40:00.000-07:00

Naples Fla April 6 2008
By: Rick McCann
Ntl Assoc. Private Officers
www.privateofficer.com
Via Press Release

Deputies arrested a 37-year-old Albertsons employee Wednesday on charges she made fake transactions and stole lottery tickets.
Julie Reneus, 3625 Poplar Way, East Naples, was charged with grand theft.The thefts were reported over several days in March at the Albertsons at 3350 U.S. 41 E. East Naples.
Reports say Reneus, who works in the Albertsons liquor department, would run off lottery tickets, charged for them without putting money into the cash register and then would conduct a fake beer keg or tap deposit return for customers, which would balance out the money she was removing from the register or charging the lottery tickets to.
Store surveillance video showed Reneus, who works alone in the liquor department, working on the days when the discrepancies were reported.
There were no customers in the store at the time Reneus made transactions for keg returns, reports said.
A search of Reneus by deputies turned up several lottery tickets in her pants pockets. A subsequent search of her purse turned up more lottery tickets.
Many of the tickets corresponded to specific dates in which keg deposit returns were conducted, reports said.

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Suspects in jewelry heist surrender to police www.privateofficer.com

2008-04-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

Walton County Fla. April 6 2008

Two women turned themselves in to Walton County (Fla.) authorities Wednesday night in connection with a March 12 jewelry store theft, Walton County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Eddie Farris said.
Emily Parker Johnson, 54, of a Croom Drive address in Montgomery, and Mary Parker Brown, 52, of a Laurelwood Lane address in Montgomery, were both charged with grand theft, according to Walton County arrest reports.
The two sisters, along with a third sister, Rheata Parker Dozier, 55, of a Wares Ferry Road address in Montgomery, entered Hooch and Holly’s jewelry store in the community of Seaside in northwest Florida March 12, according to Walton County Sheriff’s Office reports.
Store manager Jennifer Black has said one woman bought something at the counter while the other two dropped jewelry into straw bags sold by the store.
The women left without paying for the items, she said.The women arrested allegedly took $4,424.70 of jewelry, according to the same reports.Dozier was not charged, Farris said, because the Florida state attorney’s office had "insufficient evidence" to prosecute."(Brown and Johnson) came in late (Wednesday) evening, sometime after 4:30 p.m.," Farris said.
"They were booked in and bonded out right after that."Both Brown and Johnson were released on $5,000 bond each, Farris said.Sheriff’s deputies recovered the jewelry and returned it to the store.A Mary Brown in Montgomery with the same Laurelwood Lane address listed in the police report said neither she nor her sister were those who turned themselves in. A Rheata P. Dozier at the same Wares Ferry Road address as listed in the police reports said she did not know anything about the situation

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Stabbings at mall have shoppers on edge www.privateofficer.com

2008-04-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

MESA AZ. April 6 2008 — Two stabbings at a Mesa mall are related, and authorities have a suspect in custody, police said.The first stabbing occurred Sunday afternoon at a Macy’s department store in Fiesta Mall.

Mesa police said a man was stabbed in an unprovoked attack, receiving non-life threatening injuries.Officers didn’t locate a suspect Sunday, but they got a physical description of the attacker and his vehicle.

A second stabbing happened Monday afternoon. Police stopped and detained a man after security officers found the victim fatally stabbed in the restroom of the Fiesta Mall food court.

Police are withholding the murder victim’s name until his family is notified.Late Monday, Mesa police confirmed the male suspect bought an eight inch butcher knife from a mall store shortly before Monday’s incident.

Police are also in the process of conducting a photo lineup with the victim of Sunday’s stabbing at Fiesta Mall.Mesa Police Chief George Gascon said the attacks appear to be random.The suspect is a convicted murderer with a history of mental illness who spent six years in prison and was released about two years ago, Gascon said.

Mesa police said the victim of Sunday’s stabbing was a 22-year-old male walking through the men’s department in Macy’s, the East Valley Tribune reported.

According to police, the suspect entered the store Sunday afternoon and approached the first victim. The victim said he looked in the suspect’s direction as they passed, at which time the suspect turned around, grabbed him from behind and stabbed him in the neck with a knife.The victim turned around and said to the suspect, "What are you doing? I don’t even know you." The suspect then stabbed the victim in the shoulder three times.

Mesa police said they didn’t notify the public about Sunday’s stabbing until Monday morning because investigators didn’t have enough information, and that releasing the details would have been premature, Gascon said.Crime scene tape and a police presence at the mall Monday afternoon drew the attention of shoppers."We knew something really bad must have happened," said Rose Medina, a Fiesta Mall shopper.Mike Jorgenson, senior property manager at Fiesta Mall, said the incident only affected a small area of the mall. "Everyone’s going about their shopping," he said.

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Teenager charged with robbery after theft www.privateofficer.com

2008-04-06T08:27:00.000-07:00

Harlingen TX APRIL 6 2008

An 18-year-old man that police arrested on charges of aggravated robbery was arraigned Thursday by a municipal court judge, who set his bond at $50,000, officials said Harlingen resident Leroy Cortez was arrested after police said he and his juvenile brother took merchandise from Mervyn’s without paying and threatened a Mervyn’s security officer Monday, according to a police report.

The two brothers and another man went into the store at Valle Vista Mall and a security officer saw the boy hide a T-shirt in his shorts, the report states.Cortez saw his brother conceal the shirt and didn’t attempt to stop him, the report states.

They then walked out of the store without paying and security officers confronted the group, according to the report.

The boy pulled a knife out of his right front pants pocket and turned on the security officers, and Cortez told the security guards to leave his brother alone, the police report states.

The juvenile put the knife inside his pocket when he saw police arrive, according to the report.Police arrested the brothers and took them to the Harlingen jail, the report states.While the juvenile was being transported to the Darrel B. Hester Juvenile Detention Center, he was able to move his cuffed hands toward the front of his body, and police and the boy were involved in a brief struggle when they took him out of the car, the report states.

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Public questions police use of force during shoplifter arrest www.privateofficer.com

2008-04-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

Waterford CT. April 6 2008
By: Rick McCann
Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers
www.privateofficer.com

There seems to be some question as to whether or not local police used too much force in arresting a shoplifter at a local Sears on Wednesday. Two people who said they had witnessed the arrest say that there was.
Police were notified by Sears loss prevention team that they were attempting to detain a shoplifter, later identified as Jose Molina-Montalvo and that he was struggling with them.
Waterford Chief of Police Murray Pendleton on Thursday defended tactics used by police in the arrest.Based on Lt. Brett Mahoney’s report of the incident, Mahoney arrived on the scene, Pendleton said, the man had smashed the case and started to run. Pendleton said Mahoney chased the man through several departments of the store..
At that point, Pendleton said, Officer John Bunce arrived on the scene and attempted to use a Taser to subdue the man. Pendleton said the Taser’s batteries were not properly charged and the gun misfired. At that point, officers on the scene reported that the man refused to be handcuffed and continued resisting officers. In their report, Pendleton said, the officers said that because the Taser didn’t work, they then used their "closed fists" to bring the man under control.
Police charged Jose Molina-Montalvo, 19, of New London with fifth-degree larceny, third-degree criminal mischief, interfering with a police officer and possession of a shoplifting device.Witnesses to the arrest notified the local newspaper of the incident saying that in their opinion the police overdid it and used too much force to subdue the man and the newspaper contacted Molina-Montalvo, at his home, and he admitted to stealing a digital camera from the store but said Waterford police went too far in the arrest, shoving him to the ground outside the store and repeatedly kicking and punching him in the head and chest.
Molina-Montalvo said that as he walked out of the store and headed for the exit he noticed a police officer. He tried to retreat and ran for a few feet but realized he had nowhere to go, he said."I saw a cop point something yellow at me," Molina-Montalvo said. "I think it was a Taser. I tried to put my arms up and head for the ground. That’s when one cop pushed me to the ground. I think he even used the Taser. I don’t know how we ended up outside, but one cop is on me, one kicked me and someone kept punching my face.""I know what I did was wrong," said Molina-Montalvo, but "the way they handled the situation was wrong. They were beating me up like I really did something bad." Montalvo sustained minor scratches and bruising during his arrest.Pendleton said the officers acted appropriately in a situation in which a man was actively resisting arrest.
Molina-Montalvo has other criminal cases pending against him. In February, New London police arrested him when a friend he was with dropped a bag containing a .22-caliber rifle and a pellet rifle, police said. Molina-Montalvo was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon and interfering with police.The local newspaper The Day, said about a dozen people witnessed the incident, some taking photos with their cell phones.

PrivateOfficer.com and The National Association of Private Officers tried to contact Montalvo but found no listed phone number for himWe did however talk with Anthony Bianco, a regional loss prevention manager for a major retailer and a retired police officer from Florida. We asked him in his current or previous duties if force was ever necessary in the arrest of a suspect and just how much force should be used. He pointed out that the officers were met with a fleeing suspect who after being physically detained still put up a fight to the point that the officers tried to deploy their taser gun which would have been reasonaable force under the circumstances. When the Taser malfunctioned, the officers continued to use force by punching Montalvo to bring him into submission so that he could be handcuffed. To the public, seeing four or five cops piled up on one person especially using physical force may have seemed a bit too much but in reality it was the level of force required to bring the suspect under control. If he had complied with their demands to be handcuffed the shoppers would have just seen a routine arrest and officers escorting a prisoner out the door to their waiting police cruisers.The public needs to realize that it’s not always as bad as it looks Bianco said. What if he had gotten away from the officers and pulled a knife or a gun and taken one of the shoppers hostage or worse, shot them.

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RETAIL SECURITY ALERT! www.privateofficer.com

2008-04-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

Atlanta Georgia April 6 2008

RETAIL SECURITY ALERT!

In the past eighteen days, we have reports from at least a dozen different states and retail stores of large amounts of razor blades being stolen from pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreen as well as department stores such as Walmart and K-Mart.

These thefts involve the replacement tri- blades for all brands and has netted thieves approximately $300,000 in stolen merchandise.

The razor blades, as with most HBA(health, beauty aid) items are fast cash on internet sites such as EBay and other online auctions, Craigslist and on line stores and market places as well as area flea markets and just selling them right out of the trunk of their car like one shoplifter did in New Jersey.

Most stores are reporting that the thefts wipe out entire sections of inventory and add up to thousands of dollars of merchandise in one hit.

Although there have been several arrests in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee we do not see a connection to these thefts at this time and in most cases the shoplifters are acting independently in their area. This does not mean however that gangs are not working a particular city or state because we are sure that they are.Some stores have begun locking up these items while others do not want to inconvenience their customers anymore than they have to.BE AWARE! If you have an HBA area it is advised to spend extra time on surveillance and make you GM’s and store associates aware of this alert!

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Officer injured by shoplifter www.privateofficer.com

2008-04-06T08:19:00.000-07:00

SPRINGBORO, Ohio April 6 2008

BY: Bryan Hill

Security News Magazinehttp://www.privateofficer.com/

A shoplifter trying to steal one of the hottest theft items right now found himself in jail after he struggled with a police officer and injured him.A Springboro police officer working a security detail at the Kroger on West Central Avenue was injured in a scuffle with the suspect Friday night.The officer became aware of two men who were shoplifting razor blades and tried to detain the suspects.When the officer tried to stop them, one of the men ran off and the officer struggled with the other suspect but was eventually able to take him into custodty.The officer was taken to an area hospital, where he received stitches in his hand.Police said two men tried to walk out of the store with $1,000 worth of razor blades.Authorities did not release the name of the officer involved or the arrested shoplifter.Police were still searching for the other suspect as of Friday night.

Shoplifting arrest leads to major drug bust www.privateofficer.com

2008-03-30T09:37:00.001-07:00

Benton Ark. March 30 2008

Billy Crews, 49, of Saline County was arrested on numerous drug-related charges after Benton police learned that the shoplifting suspects were taking items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.Benton police investigated a reported shoplifting incident at the Wal-Mart Supercenter on March 7 and gained information on the suspects’ vechicle.
Later that day, when police stopped the vehicle, they noticed items inside the vehicle consistent with the manufacture of meth, according to a police report.
Police reported that the suspects in the vehicle identified Crews as the alleged "meth cook."
Police said they used the information to launch a two-week investigation into a residence at 952 Crews Road.
Last Friday, police and narcotics officers raided the residence and reported finding a meth lab. Authorities said they also found about 2.6 ounces of a crystal white substance believed to be meth, which has a street value of about $7,500.
Police said numerous chemicals were found in the kitchen, including pool cleaner, ether, Coleman fuel, empty blister packs of cold medicine and a bottle containing iodine crystals.Crews was arrested later that day. He is charged with manufacturing meth, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture meth, possession of meth with intent to deliver, maintaining a drug premise, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana).The shoplifting suspects are Scott Bennett, 30, of Benton and Christopher Brumley, 35, and Laura Roberts, 20, both of Haskell.Bennett is charged with shoplifting. Brumley is charged with possession of psuedoephedrine with intent to manufacture, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture, possession of marijuana and possession of a weapon. Roberts is charged with possession of psuedoephedrine with intent to manufacture and possession of paraphernalia with intent to manufacture.Benton police Sgt. Kevin Russell said much of the meth trade is coming from Mexico."Home-grown meth labs have declined," Russell said, "but ... you still see them occasionally.

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Intoxicated shoplifter passes out at store www.privateofficer.com

2008-03-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

Rogersville TN. March 30 2008

By: Rick McCannNtl Assoc. Private Officers

http://www.privateofficer.com/

Rogersville police were called to what was suppose to be a shoplifting call at a local dollar store.But what they found was an intoxicated male sprawled out and passed out on the floor of the store with items he allegedly intended to steal stuffed down his pants and scattered on the floor around him.

Authorities say that they received a call from the Dollar General store and dispatched Officer Ronald Skelton was dispatched to the Park View Plaza on Park Boulevard Thursday night shortly after 8 p.m. in reference to a man lying unconscious on the floor.Skelton stated in his report that he found the man slumped over between two aisles with merchandise scattered around him.

Police say that they tried to awaken him but that he was severly incompasitated and almost non-responsive.The merchandise that was alledgedly shoplifted was mainly household items, Skelton stated in his report.

Between the items on the floor and those stuffed down his pants, the overall value was approximately $45.Hugh Dustin Wolfe, 29, 730 Stroupe Court, Apt. 212, Church Hill, was arrested and is scheduled for arraignment April 9 in Hawkins County Sessions Court on charges including theft under $500 and possession of Schedule II narcotics

.Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Scott Alley assisted Skelton at the scene, and the two officers were able to revive Wolfe.A search of Wolfe revealed him to be in possession of several pills in an unmarked pill container and in a cigarette pack, police said. The pills were later determined to be Soma and Xanax.Due to his high level of intoxication, Wolfe was initially taken to Hawkins County Memorial Hospital for observation before being booked into jail.

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Mother goes on shoplifting spree with 3 children www.privateofficer.com

2008-03-30T09:31:00.000-07:00

SACRAMENTO CA. March 30 2008 -- Steve Reed has seen his share of shoplifters in his job in mall security, but the apparent brazen nature of a Northern California mother’s crime even shocked him.The incident began to unfold Monday at Sacramento’s Arden Fair Mall on Monday."It initially started out with a complaint about a dog in a car with its windows rolled up," Reed said. "It was a large dog and appeared to be over-heating."The dog was released from the car by animal control officials, but the real crime drama then began to unfold. Soon a mother and three children approached the car as mall security officials watched."When we watched the people come out to the car, we noticed that loss prevention was following closely behind," Reed said.The mother, 41-year-old Christine Brown, was walking to the car with her daughters 5, 9 and 10 years old in tow.They had been shopping at a Sears store inside the mall when they got the attention of undercover security guards."She had allegedly taken numerous items and that she had actually placed some of the items on the children," Reed said.When police arrived on the scene, the extent of Brown’s alleged crime became apparent."She took about $375 worth of merchandise," said Sacramento police Sgt. Lai Bui. "She put the clothing on the children hoping they would be able to walk out of the store with the clothing on."Brown remained in custody on Wednesday and her three children in protective custody."It is disappointing to see parents treating their children this way -- putting their children in danger just for an article of clothing." Bui said.Reed called the alleged crime "heartbreaking.""It’s heartbreaking because if is not sending the right message to children," Reed said.Brown -- who has been arrested on theft charged before -- was being held on potential theft and child endangerment charges.

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Security officer captures bank robber www.privateofficer.com

2008-03-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

Security officer captures bank robber

Jackson MS. March 330 2008
By: Bryan Hill /Security News Magazine
www.privateofficer.com
A Jackson teenager is under arrest for bank robbery today after being chased down on foot by a private security officer police said."Witnesses said a (man) entered the BankPlus location on Dalton Street just before 10 a.m.and handed the teller a note demanding a specific amount of money," JPD spokesman Sgt. Jeffery Scott said. "He asked for $5,000."Scott would not say how much money the teller gave him.Police identified the alleged robber as 19-year-old Allen Michael Hill, who was captured by the female security officer after a short chase in the 800 block of Rose Street.Hill faces a charge of bank robbery. Police credit the alert security officer and her willingness to put her own life in jepordy with the fast apprehension and arrest of the bank robber.Police did not say if either the security officer or Hill were armed.Investigators have not determined whether to turn Hill’s case over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Police officer charged with theft www.privateofficer.com

2008-03-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

Police officer charged with theft

Sarcoxie Mo. March 30 2008
By: Rick McCann
Ntl Assoc. Private Officerswww.privateofficer.com

Police say that they were notified by an area resident that they had accidentially left their cellphone and wallet at a local conveneince store.Investigating officers were able to locate the items and the person responsible for taking them but they are surprised at who the culprit turned out to be.Authorities say that the store clerk working behind the cash register, Charissa Garber was their suspect, but she’s also a law enforcement officer.Garber is employed as a police officer with the Jasper Missouri Police Department and a former jailer with the Jasper County Detention Center.Authorities say she had been working as a clerk at a Sarcoxie convenience store, and say she stole a wallet and cell phone that a customer had left on the counter.Garber is charged with felony theft and has been suspended from the Jasper Police Department.Authorities did not say how long Garber has been employed by Jasper police or what led them to her being a suspect in the theft.

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Security officer arrested in robbery scheme www.privateofficer.com

2008-03-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

Security officer arrested in robbery scheme

Albany GA. March 30 2008
by: Rick McCannwww.privateofficer.com
The Ntl Assoc. Private Officers
— Police responded to a robbery at a local business and wound up arresting the arresting the security guard who was suppose to be protecting the business.Police say that the northwest Albany shoe store security guard who they believe falsely reported that someone dropped from the ceiling of the store Monday night and bashed him in the head with a shotgun before robbing the store, police said Wednesday.Freddie Green, 26, was arrested just after midnight Tuesday on charges of armed robbery and making false statements and concealing facts in connection with the robbery that took place at the Dawson Road Shoe Station, according to jail records. He was still being held in the jail as of Wednesday evening, a jailer said.Green initially told police officers on Monday night that a man was waiting and dropped from the ceiling in the men’s restroom and bashed him in the head with a shotgun before forcing him to the manager’s office, which was locked from the inside because manager Ta’Tanisha Turner was inside counting money.Turner told police she opened the door after hearing a crash and Green yelling and found another man pointing a shotgun at her. The shotgun-wielding robber then tied the two up in the manager’s office, Turner told police.Police noted during their initial investigation that where Green had crashed through the ceiling tiles from climbing through the ceiling to get out of the manager’s office, but there were no disturbed tiles in the store’s restrooms. Police also noted that there was no visible forced entry from the store’s roof.There may be additional arrests in the case, Albany Police Department spokesperson Phyllis Banks-Whitley said.The robbers made off with cash, according to a police report.Any one with information pertaining to the case can call (229) 436-TIPS.Lee County and Albany police officials say there hasn’t been an unusual trend developing in "internal" thefts or robberies.In late February, a Chili’s employee told police he was robbed and beaten by six men in the parking lot of the store, but later confessed to police he made the story up and that a former Chili’s employee snatched about $60 from him as payment on a football wager."I mean, it happens. Employee theft, false reports are something that do happen from time to time, but this is the first one we’ve had in a while," said Lee County Chief Deputy Dennis Parker. "It’s not a trend or a rash of them, but it is something that happens from time to time."Banks-Whitley said the APD had also not seen a particular increase in internal thefts or robberies.Parker pointed out that employee theft typically makes up about 70 percent of a store’s losses.
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Loss Prevention News www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-28T18:13:00.000-08:00

OHIO

A man with a knife threatened Walmart security staff in the early hours of this morning.
The incident took place at the store, in the Northern Orbital Shopping Centre, at 1.30am.
Security staff at the store were confronted by three men, one of whom was brandishing a knife.
Police were alerted and responded immediately.
The three men were then detained and the man with the knife was arrested for carrying an offensive weapon, and also for a drug related charge.
A second man was also arrested for a drug related offense.

A 19-year-old man was arrested at 3:45 p.m. Jan. 22 at the King Soopers at 995 S. Hover St on suspicion of theft. A security officer for the store called police. Upon arrival at the scene, the security man told officers that he witnessed the man conceal and not pay for two packs of cigarettes and an avocado. When officers attempted to take the man into custody, he was using his cell phone to send a text message. One officer told the man to put the phone down, to which the man replied, "Can't I finish my message?" The man was then told to get up by the security officer, and he obliged. The man was released on a summons.

INDPENDENCE MO
A 19-year-old Independence resident believed to have fired a shotgun in a dispute Saturday afternoon just outside the Target store in Independence was to appear in Jackson County Circuit Court late this morning, according to Tom Gentry, Independence police spokesman.
The teen, whose name was not released, allegedly fired a shotgun, wounding two 18-year-old Kansas City men. Both victims were taken to a hospital Saturday with non-life threatening injuries, Gentry said.
Independence Police Captain Ken Jarnagin said the events leading to the shooting near the Bolger Square shopping center are still under investigation. However, the dispute seems to have begun perhaps as long as two months ago and seemed to have been carried from Kansas City to Independence, Jarnagin said.
"There's still a lot of things we're trying to figure out," he said.
The teen was apprehended near the scene of the shooting and taken into custody shortly after the incident, which occurred about 12:15 p.m.
The victims went to a nearby optometry building, where they asked employees to call police. Those who were injured drove a red SUV, which had many bullet holes.
Kirk Bayne of Independence said he and his wife were inside the Target shopping when they heard someone say there had been a shooting outside. When Bayne and his wife got into the parking lot, they discovered their parked car had been hit by the gunfire. It had bullet holes and the rear window has been shot out.
"If only my car could talk," Bayne joked.
Marty Schmuhl, who lives behind the Target store, said he heard no shots, but followed a police vehicle into the Target store while officers inside were in pursuit of the suspects. "There was like a flurry of activity out here," Schmuhl said. "Isn't that something," he said, shaking his head. "That this would happen in bright daylight in Independence.

MERCED CA.
Four teenagers, ages 15 to 17, were arrested Friday night at Save Mart, 1136 W. Main St., on charges of robbery, conspiracy, resisting arrest and gang enhancements after a foiled shoplifting attempt.
Lt. Roger McIntyre of the Merced Police Department said one of the boys went to the liquor aisle of the grocery store and put bottles of liquor down the sleeves of his jacket while a friend acted as a lookout and they left the store without paying.

The teens, several of them validated criminal street gang members, interfered with store loss prevention officers' attempts to arrest them.

RICHLAND PA.
A 17-year-old Quakertown girl was arrested Jan. 18 for retail theft after she stole $87 worth of jewelry from Kohl's Department Store on Route 309, said Richland police. In related charges, another 17-year-old Quakertown girl was arrested for retail theft for stealing more than $54 worth of jewelry from Kohl's, said police. The names of the girls were withheld by police because of their ages.

Bismarck ND
Bismarck police say six people were arrested by store security for shoplifting yesterday. Three different women were caught shoplifting from the South Walmart, together taking more than $130 worth of makeup, clothing, and other items. A 39-year-old woman was arrested at the North Walmart for stealing a camera, sheets, and other assorted items worth a total of more than $350. An off-duty police officer was in the area when she was caught. Because of the amount the merchandise was worth, she will be charged with a class A misdemeanor. A homeless man was caught stealing a $10 stocking cap from Scheels. He said he was cold and had no money. Finally, a 44-year-old Bismarck woman was arrested at Kohls for stealing about $80 worth of clothes.

NYC. A security guard at the Apple computer store at 103 Prince St. at the corner of Greene St. stopped a man who was walking out of the store without paying for four software discs in his jacket pocket at 5:45 a.m. Sun., Jan. 13, police said. Scott Smith, 37, was charged with third degree burglary, larceny and possession of stolen property, according to prosecutors.

Brooklyn NY Police arrested Maurice Cato, 36, of Brooklyn, at about 5:15 p.m. Sun., Jan. 13 in the Louis Vuitton boutique at 116 Greene St. at Prince St. for trying to walk out of the place without paying for a bag valued at $3,250, according to the district attorney’s office. The suspect was charged with grand larceny and possession of stolen property.

NYC Three suspects charged with shoplifting 25 pairs of designer jeans with a total value of $5,573 from the Bloomingdale’s Soho store at 504 Broadway at Broome St. on Thurs., Jan. 10 pleaded guilty on Jan. 21, according to the district attorney’s office.

NEW HARTFORD NY - A Utica woman who has been arrested 23 times under eight different names was charged following a shoplifting incident at the Kids Deal store on Monday, police said. Doris S. McDade, 41, was transported to the New Hartford Police Department where during the processing, a criminal history search revealed she had been previously arrested 23 times including a 1989 conviction for manslaughter in New York City, police said. McDade was arraigned and sent to Oneida County Jail in lieu of $1,000 bond. Her case will be heard in New Hartford court at a later date, police said.

Tifton GA-- A Tifton Police officer on patrol early Saturday morning busted a Florida man who had climbed on top of the Tifton Mall and was stealing copper from air conditioning units.
Officer Danny Hayes spotted a U-Haul truck behind the mall. Thirty-seven-year-old John Eugene Odom was using that truck to store commercial grade cooling units that he had just stolen from heating and air conditioning systems on the rooftop of the mall.
"During the night he was apparently going on top of the roof stripping the AC units to obtain the copper, primarily the copper parts of it to sell for scrap," says Tifton Police Detective Raleigh Coarsey.
Odom is being held in the Tift County Jail facing felony theft charges. No word on how much it will cost to fix the damaged units.

BENSALEM PA
Mike Phipps, 39, 600 block Clymer Ave., Morrisville, 2:43 p.m., Sun, theft by unlawful taking at Sears, Neshaminy Mall, to receive summons.

NASHVILLE TN.

A 21-year-old man and a 23-year-old employee of a Walgreens store were arrested on charges the man donned a clown mask and held up the store — and that the employee helped him set it up.
Metro police arrested Marcus Rucker of Curdwood Boulevard today on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and theft of property, in connection with a Jan. 8 robbery at a Walgreens store on North Gallatin Pike.
Patricia Young was forced to put pills in a bag at gunpoint during the robbery, but police said she gave Rucker the code to the men’s bathroom so he could put on the clown mask, and lead her out with a gun to her back.
Young was charged with theft of property on Sunday. Rucker is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond.

University Executive Pleads Guilty To Shoplifting www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-28T18:06:00.000-08:00

EDMOND OKL. Jan 28, 2008 — The executive director of alumni relations at the University of Central Oklahoma pleaded no contest to a larceny charge Thursday in Oklahoma City Municipal Court
Stacy McNeiland, 37, of Oklahoma City was fined $219. She also was ordered to pay $117 for the time she spent in jail.
McNeiland was arrested at J.C. Penney"s, 1901 NW Expressway, after a store security officer said he watched a woman take five items of clothing into a fitting room, according to an Oklahoma City police report.
When the woman left the fitting room, the officer said only four items were hung on the courtesy rack. One item of clothing was hung on two hangers, the report states.
The officer said he found a discarded tag from a blouse left in the fitting room, the report shows. A blouse was found in a paper bag the woman was carrying as she left the store without paying for the merchandise, according to the report. The officer reported that the bag was empty when the woman went into the fitting room.
The woman, later identified as McNeiland, repeatedly told the officer the incident was a mistake, the report states.
McNeiland was on vacation Friday from her university job. She has not worked since her arrest Nov. 5.
University spokesman Charlie Johnson said he could not comment because the issue was a personnel matter.

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Officers injured during shoplifting arrest www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-28T17:56:00.000-08:00

Colorado Springs CO. Jan 28, 2008

Two Colorado Springs police officers were hurt during a scuffle with a shoplifting suspect Friday afternoon.

Police were called to the Sears department store on Southgate Road around 2:30 p.m., for a suspected shoplifter who had left before store security officers could detain him.

Police said Donald Alan Watts, 29, came back to the store while officers were there, and officers saw him stealing more items, police said. Watts fought back when officers tried to arrest him, and they fired Tasers at him twice, to no effect.

He was arrested when more officers arrived, police said.

Watts was booked into El Paso County jail on suspicion of assault on a police officer and warrants for robbery, shoplifting and contempt of court.

Two officers received minor injuries, police said.

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School security officers charged with "Ghost Payrolling" theft www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-28T17:49:00.000-08:00

WAUKEGAN IL. Jan 28 2008 -- A six-month investigation into alleged ghost-payrolling at the Waukegan Public School District led to the arrest this week of two district security guards on felony theft charges.
Taken into custody Wednesday was Anthony Artley, 41, of the 500 block of Lakehurst in Waukegan, while the second suspect, 47-year-old DeWayne Williams of the 39000 block of Ackworth, Beach Park, reportedly turned himself in to police on Thursday.
Williams is known in the Waukegan sports community as the backfield mate of the late Gerald Green, the Waukegan West track and football All-American. Williams has been employed as the supervisor of safety at the Waukegan Ninth Grade Center.
Police Chief William Biang said Williams and Artley, a fellow Ninth Grade Center employee, are accused of arranging to be paid for time they did not work. The arrests were the result of an investigation launched in July after school officials asked police to look into allegations of payroll and accounting irregularities.
Asked how much money the men are accused of taking, Biang said, "It's all still under investigation. We're not done counting it, and there are more things that might come out." Biang added that the amounts "will be substantial."
Both men are charged with Class 3 felony theft.
Following their arrests, Artley and Williams were released on $35,000 personal recognizance bonds.
Officials also said they have been placed on administrative leave by the school district.
Officials asked that anyone with information call detectives at (847) 599-2947.

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K-Mart Employee Arrested For Refund Scam www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-28T17:39:00.000-08:00

Maysville Ohio Jan 28, 2008
A Mason County grand jury met Friday and returned indictments against 11 people, one of which was indicted for allegedly stealing several thousand dollars from her employer, Kmart.Mary Jane Cooper, 49, of Maysville, an 18-year veteran employee of the Maysville Kmart store appeared in Mason County District Court in October 2007 on charges of theft for allegedly stealing between $3,600 and $3,700 from the store; at the time of her court appearance Cooper entered a plea of not guilty.In a previous interview, Detective Mike Palmer with the Maysville Police Department said 49-year-old Cooper had been charged with two felony counts of theft by deception and one misdemeanor count of theft by deception, though more charges were possible.The indictment handed down Friday charges Cooper with one count theft by failure to make required disposition when she took an amount in excess of $300. The penalty for the charge is one to five years.According to Palmer, police were alerted to the possible theft through Kmart's loss prevention department.Allegedly, Cooper stole the money through the fraudulent processing of return and exchange paperwork for nonexistent items, then pocketed the money. Palmer said it appeared Cooper would use a receipt for items purchased earlier, then cash out a refund, without the item being returned. After numerous items which were supposedly returned could not be found, officials with the store became suspicious.

The thefts allegedly occurred over a period of time beginning in December 2005 through September 2007.A spokesperson for Kmart would not comment on the situation citing a corporate policy and ongoing litigation.

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County employees arrested for theft of money www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-28T17:31:00.000-08:00

Chicago IL. Jan 28, 2008

Three former Cook County government employees and five others have been charged with stealing as much as $1.6 million, including more than $500,000 from taxpayers.
The county workers accused in the fraud scheme are employees of Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's job training program, known as the President’s Office of Employment Training, or POET.
The three former employees are Roberto Rivera, Ronald Harper and Rudolph Sanchez. Each held high-ranking positions in POET. Rivera and Harper appeared in court this afternoon, while Sanchez awaits extradition from New Mexico, prosecutors said.
Others charged include Charles Koen, a convicted felon who is pastor of Christian Hope Church in Chicago; and Alex Brooks, a reverend there, prosecutors said.
Also charged are Joyce Norfleet and Dorothy Taylor, employees at what prosecutors say was a shell company set up by Koen.
Harper was led from his office Thursday in handcuffs. He's been fired, officials said.
The county POET office gets millions of dollars in county, state and federal funds to provide job training.
In 2005, POET fiscal manager Shirley Glover was charged with stealing more than $180,000 from the agency. Described by prosecutors as “unqualified” and “inept,” she was hired at the urging of top county patronage chiefs despite having 10 previous felony convictions for crimes including theft. Records showed she never formally applied for the job and was hired by ex-Board President John Stroger.
State’s Attorney Richard Devine said then there were a “lack of controls” and “significant looseness” in oversight of POET funds — concerns that led state officials to label the county POET program as “high-risk,” meaning no funds could be withdrawn without state approval.
Glover remains free on bail after pleading not guilty. She last appeared in court on Wednesday.

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2008-01-28T17:13:00.000-08:00

Shoplifter, fraud suspect arrested www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-28T17:08:00.000-08:00

Rogers Ark.

Sonia Francis Viers, 35, of Bella Vista and an acquaintance, Timothy Ray Bornowski, 45, of Rogers were arrested in connection with forging checks, possessing fake identification cards and theft of property.Wal-Mart loss-prevention personnel notified police on Jan. 15 that Viers had purchased several items with a possibly forged check at 4208 Pleasant Crossing, according to the news release.

Bornowski was caught shoplifting, loss-prevention personnel said. Officers said they found several forged checks and fake driver's licenses on both Bornowski and Viers.Police searched Viers' vehicle and found more checks and driver's licenses, according to the news release.Viers and Bornowski were charged Jan. 15 with felony second-degree forgery and misdemeanor theft of property. They were transported to Benton County Jail and each released on a $20,000 bond.Viers was arrested again on Friday in connection with 21 felony counts of first-degree forgery and 12 counts of second-degree forgery.Viers was being held Friday in the Benton County Jail awaiting a bond hearing.

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SWAT, 20 officers respond to shoplifting gone wrong www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-28T17:03:00.000-08:00

El CAJON CA. Jan 28 2008

More than two dozen police officers surrounded a Marshalls store about 2 p.m. yesterday to investigate an apparent shoplifting incident.
El Cajon police Lt. Jim Redman said police initially thought it might have been an armed robbery, and two of the officers were in SWAT gear.
Two people were arrested on suspicion of trying to steal clothing in two duffel bags they had brought into the store, at the corner of Fletcher Parkway and Jackman Street near Westfield Parkway Plaza.
Dozens of passers-by stopped to see what was happening, and Marshalls was evacuated during the incident. No employees or shoppers were injured. About 10 customers were inside the store at the time.
Redman said that shortly after the arrest, one of the suspects began vomiting, so paramedics were called and he was taken to a hospital

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Shoplifter assaults LP agent and flees www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-28T16:58:00.000-08:00

Massillion Oh Jan 28 2008
Uniontown man faces a felony robbery charge in connection with a theft Monday at Wal-Mart in Jackson Township.
Court records show Dustin Frank Luman, 23, of 3414 Parfoure Blvd., Uniontown, used a razor knife to cut open a cell phone package. He reportedly placed the cell phone in his jacket, then returned the empty package to the shelf.
Store security confronted Luman, but he pulled away and assulted the security agent and ran from the store, according to court records. Luman was tracked down a short time later outside the store.
Officers searched Luman and found razor blades, wire cutters and a bag of marijuana in his pockets, according to court records.
Bond was set at $25,000 for Luman who also was charged with possession of criminal tools and possession of marijuana, both misdemeanors. A preliminary hearing in the case is set for 11 a.m. Jan. 30.

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Fla. Shoplifting Gang Steals $100 Million In Goods www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-28T16:31:00.000-08:00

LAKELAND FLA. Jan 28 2008 -- A multi-agency investigation that began with a single shoplifting incident about seven months ago has revealed an 18-person crime ring that may be responsible for the theft of up to $100 million worth of medicine and health and beauty goods from convenience and grocery stores statewide, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Thursday.The investigation started with two shoplifters at a Publix supermarket on Shepherd Road in Lakeland on June 26, Judd said at a news conference in Lakeland on Thursday afternoon.Rita Maddox and Elisha Cordle of Dover stole nearly $4,500 worth of Oil of Olay products that day, placing them into special bags designed to conceal stolen goods, Judd said.To law enforcement, it seemed like a regular shoplifting incident and the two were charged with grand theft. But after speaking with confidential sources, Judd said, a sheriff's detective uncovered something more: the single largest organized crime ring of its kind in Polk County Sheriff's Office history.On Thursday, after executing five search warrants, 14 people were arrested and charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Five of those people are already serving jail or prison time, Judd said. Four more people are still wanted on the same charges.Judd said many more may be involved."I highly suspect that this is just a tentacle of a larger operation," he said. "This is truly more of the beginning of the investigation than its end."Maddox and Cordle were just two of at least 13 stealthy shoplifters who stole between $60 million and $100 million worth of over-the-counter medicines and beauty and health products from hundreds of convenience and grocery stores in at least 11 counties, Judd said.They reported to two middlemen and two ringleaders, who in turn sold the products out of two warehouses, three flea markets, including one in Auburndale, and two Web sites, including a long-standing eBay.com account.The crime ring has been operating for at least five years, Judd said.The investigation began after Maddox and Cordle, who have a child together, were arrested in June.It spanned seven months and included the sheriff's offices of Polk and Hillsborough counties, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Attorney General Bill McCollum's office.The retail theft operation was well-concealed. The 13 known shoplifters are all related in some way to each other and most had prior arrests and convictions for shoplifting, Judd said.They used bags designed to conceal the stolen items to shoplift from the stores, which they revisited numerous times. On one day, Judd said, investigators watched thefts occur in eight different stores. On another occasion, three people shoplifted from a Publix store while a manager did inventory in the same aisle. They were good at what they did, Judd said.The four who led the ring do not have criminal records, he said.Ringleaders Steven and Kerry Coburn are married and own four homes throughout Seminole County, authorities say. They sold the stolen items on their Web site SaleAwaySavings.com, Judd said, and even offered free shipping to customers in the U.S.One item, a soap and cologne gift set for men, was recently being sold on the site for $48.95. A 110-pack of Nicorette orange-flavored gum was on clearance sale for $159.99.The goods were delivered to the Coburns in cardboard Chiquita and Dole banana boxes. Steven Coburn inspected each box to make sure the items were in top condition. Popular items included Gillette razors and razor blades, Oil of Olay moisturizers and other health-related products, from Tylenol and Excedrin to pregnancy tests and diabetic test strips."He wanted to make sure they were brand names and not generic," said sheriff's Maj. Joe Halman.Coburn even required forms to be signed that stated none of the products were stolen, Judd said.Theresa and Ronald Parrish were the middlemen, police said. They dealt with the shoplifters and paid them as much as $3,000 in cash for each delivery. Theresa Parrish, an eBay member since March 2002, sold some of the items out of her eBay store, Lola's Discount Health and Beauty, officers said.More than 10,000 positive feedback points were left for Parrish from happy eBay members who purchased items such as razor blades, moisturizer and even bras. Buyers left praise for the quality of the products and speed of delivery.Judd said that once they were arrested, the Parrishes quickly confessed."This investigation is just beginning. We know there are others involved," he said.It is not known exactly how much of a profit the operation generated. Although the shoplifters were arrested from time to time, their offenses were thought to be singular events. Until the law enforcement agencies developed the investigation, they did not realize how many people were involved, Judd said.

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"Booster" shoplifting foiled www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-05T12:30:00.000-08:00

WHITE PLAINS NY Jan 5 2008- A Brooklyn woman led security guards on a chase through The Westchester mall to the entrance of New York Hospital before she was captured and arrested on theft and forgery charges Wednesday. An alleged accomplice escaped.
The incident occurred about 3 p.m. when the woman, identified as Shavonne Edwards, 19, and another woman were seen stealing three leather coats worth a total of $2,766 from Barney's in the 125 Westchester Ave. mall, police said.
Security officials told police the women placed the coats in a foil-lined "booster bag,'' designed to defeat store security sensors. When security approached the women outside the store, they dropped the bag and ran.
Police said Edwards ran across Bloomingdale Road to the hospital grounds, where she was captured. The other woman apprently got into a waiting car and escaped.
Edwards, who police said had several false identification cards, was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny and second-degree forgery, both felonies, and possession of an anti-theft device, a misdemeanor.
Bail and court information was not available.

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Shoplifters make their rounds gathering loot www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-05T12:27:00.001-08:00

Annapolis MD. Jan 5 2008

County police say a pair of shoplifters have brazenly walked out of local stores with two flat-screen televisions, 20 ink cartridges and at least one kitchen mixer during a two-week holiday theft spree.

The men are believed to have hit at least four stores in the area since Dec. 20, stealing $3,000 worth of merchandise in the middle of the work day, often setting off alarms, getting caught on security cameras and ignoring store security officers.

Police said the thieves simply walked out of the Office Depot at the Annapolis Harbour Center Dec. 20 with as many as 20 printer cartridges valued at $1,000.According to a police report the thieves "made several trips from the store to the outside and each time they set off the theft detection alarm." Nevertheless, the duo were able to escape with their loot.T

he store manager said he could not comment on the theft and referred questions to the corporate office.

A corporate representative could not be reached for comment.

The shoplifting streak didn't end when the holidays passed.On Dec. 27, the pair stole a $400 KitchenAid 6-quart mixer from the Bed Bath and Beyond store in the same shopping center.The thieves' most lucrative haul came two days later, when they walked out of the Jennifer Road Circuit City with a pair of flat-screen televisions valued at $1,500.According to police, the first man walked into the store and picked up a television from a display and pretended to browse before leaving the box near the store's entrance. The first man left the building and then the second thief entered, grabbed the television and walked right back out the entrance door. Ten minutes later the pair repeated the procedure, only this time catching the eye of store security.

According to a police report, security "confronted suspect No. 2, who completely ignored him and continued walking with the stolen television into the store's parking lot." The second thief jumped into a van driven by his partner and the two men drove away.An official from the store could not be reached for comment.Police said the first man is white, between the ages of 25 and 30 years old with a bald head and was wearing a black jacket and blue jeans. The second suspect is a heavyset black male between the ages of 30 and 40 years old who was last seen wearing a purple football jersey and white hooded jacket.

In every instance, the same pair was seen leaving the scene in a white van with Virginia license plate KHD 7031. According to police, the van, owned by the Rental Car Finance Corp. in Alexandria, Va., was rented from an office in the Verizon Center in Washington."They haven't determined yet if the vehicle is stolen because they haven't been able to contact whoever's rented it," said Cpl. Mark Shawkey, a police spokesman.Representatives from the rental company could not be reached for comment this morning.

The same van is linked to a Christmas Eve disorderly conduct call at a Davidsonville Road CVS pharmacy.Police said the pharmacy called to report a customer harassing a cashier before leaving in a white van that matches the description of the vehicle in the other thefts. Investigators said they believe the men may have been trying to steal the store's cash register.Police said the thieves may have committed other thefts that have gone unreported."A lot of stores will not prosecute in some instances if they get their stuff back," Cpl. Shawkey said.

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Bomb found at Michigan store www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-05T12:21:00.000-08:00

Police, fire crews and the Michigan State Police Bomb Squad were called to the Goodwill Store on Ellis Road this morning when an explosive device was found in a donation bin.
At about noon, the bomb squad and military partners determined that the device was, in fact, a military M905 tail fuse which is used as a detonation device for a variety of military explosives. The fuse was live and armed with about a half pound of explosives.
The Bomb Squad moved the device to the Wood Road leaf site and detonated it at about 1:45pm.
Police say no one was injured and they have no suspects at this time.

Best Buy Employees Busted For Theft www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

BRIDGEWATER NJ Jan 5 2008— Three Best Buy employees have been charged with stealing merchandise from the store on Commons Way.
Charged with theft, and conspiracy to commit theft, are Michael Lombardozzi, 25, 1178 Fairfield Road, Bridgewater; Jose Caraballo, 18, 452 Front St., Dunellen, and Randy Billie, 21, of Paterson, all sales associates at the store, according to papers filed in Superior Court.
Caraballo told Bridgewater police that he received a call at home Dec. 28 from another employee to come to the store and pick up a box. Court papers state that Caraballo knew it was a box of a relatively low-priced item that was repacked and contained a higher-priced item.
Caraballo took the box to the cashier and paid the price listed for the lower-priced item, authorities said.
When he got home with the box, Caraballo opened it and found an LCD projector valued at $1,499, according to court papers.
Lombardozzi told police that on Dec. 23 he took a Mac Book Pro, valued at $2,700, and put it in a box of a lower-priced item and gave it to another employee to buy, according to court papers. The other employee then gave it back to Lombardozzi, authorities said.
Billie was charged was following the same steps in taking an X-Box valued at $1,948, authorities said.
Bail was set at $5,000 with a 10 percent bond by Superior Court Judge Julie Marino sitting in Somerville.
A manager at Best Buy had no comment on the matter.

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Shopper aids in take down of shoplifter www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-05T12:01:00.001-08:00

MEXICO - Roland Castonguay knew something wasn't quite right Sunday afternoon when he saw Bartley Ray at the Wal-Mart firearms counter."His actions were just so strange. Maybe those feelings had a lot to do with my police training," said Castonguay, a Jay resident who had served with the Oxford County Sheriff's Office a decade ago.Castonguay, now owner of a small business, went to the Mexico Wal-Mart to buy a box of .22-caliber bullets to use for target practice.Ray was also there for bullets."He kept repeating that he wanted the shells while the clerk was helping another customer who was buying paintball gun supplies. He went behind the counter, looking for the shells," Castonguay said. "All that caused me to take notice of him."The clerk told Ray that he couldn't go behind the counter.The clerk then took the box of shells from the locked cabinet, and waited on Ray, but when she asked him to pay for the .30-06 shells at her counter, the 28-year-old Portland man grabbed the box and ran for the door.Although Castonguay, 39, thought Wal-Mart security would respond, he decided to race after Ray. Outside the store in the parking lot, he knocked Ray's right arm just above the wrist, causing the shells to drop to the ground. Ray then fled to what turned out to be a stolen car and sped toward Auburn.Castonguay returned the shells to Wal-Mart personnel, who had in the meantime recorded the license plate number of the stolen 2001 Volkswagen Jetta.Mexico police Sgt. Roy Hodsdon, who with other local officers from Dixfield and Rumford, assisted with the subsequent chase after Ray. He believes Castonguay's actions may have saved someone's life."He could have saved my life or someone else's. We owe him a debt of gratitude," said Hodsdon. "He could easily have saved someone's life."

Unbeknown to Castonguay or others at the time, Ray had already stolen a rifle from a Wal-Mart in Auburn before attempting to steal the ammunition from the Mexico store, police said.After the Mexico incident, Ray led law officers on a 40-mile chase that ended on Minot Avenue in Auburn, where the Jetta he was driving struck two other vehicles.He was arrested on charges of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer and operating after revocation, felonies. He remains in Androscoggin County Jail on $10,000 cash bail.Although other charges may be made because the chase took Ray through four jurisdictions, none has been brought by the Oxford County District Attorney's Office, a representative said Thursday afternoon.Castonguay and his wife, Carrie, have operated RCCM Cleaning Services Inc. since they bought Superior Carpet Cleaners of Rumford about six years ago.As a father of two young daughters, Castonguay said owning a business gives him more time with his family than he had when he was in law enforcement.But every now and then, like Sunday afternoon, his law enforcement training kicks in.Castonguay said people have asked him why he took off after Ray."You read about stuff in the news, and I had a good chance to take him away," he said.

Shoplifters flee,leave child behind www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-05T11:56:00.000-08:00

Mission KS. Jan 5 2008

A couple accused of shoplifting ran from the store and left behind a 10-year-old girl.
It happened at the Family Dollar store on North Conway in Mission. Workers confronted a couple for shoplifting and found stolen towels in the woman's bag.
Store employees called police and tried to keep the couple in the store. But the man pushed a worker away from the door and they both ran.
News reporters spoke to the worker that was pushed. She says, "The husband ran at me, pushed me out of the way. I grabbed him and tried to stop him. Then the lady screamed at me to let him go, because he would try to hit me... I tore his shirt."
Workers tell us the couple had two children with them, a boy and a girl. They say the couple was holding the girl and they thought they wouldn't leave without her. But they ran out the door, leaving her behind.
Workers tell us the boy headed back to the story to get his sister, but the woman shouted at him to get in the car.
The girl was taken to the Mission Police Department. Her mother turned herself into police just before 5 p.m. She'll face robbery charges, instead of theft. Police say this is because pushing the worker is considered an assault.
Officers are working to track down the mother's boyfriend. They say he was shoplifting with her.

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Shoplifter shows up at court high www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-05T11:44:00.000-08:00

Omaha NE Jan 5 2008

An 18-year-old Omaha woman might want to add a few New Year's resolutions to her list.

Resolution No. 1: Stop smoking marijuana.Resolution

No. 2: If you break resolution No. 1, don't do it a few hours before you appear in front of a judge.

At 2 p.m. Wednesday, the woman entered Douglas County District Judge Peter Bataillon's courtroom to plead guilty to a shoplifting charge. As all judges do, Bataillon told her he had to make certain that she was of sound mind to enter a plea.

He asked: Are you under the influence of alcohol or drugs right now?

The woman paused.Yes, she said.What? the judge asked.I smoked a blunt, the woman said.She explained that she and a friend had shared a blunt, which is a cigar packed with marijuana.How big was the blunt? the judge asked.She held up her hands six inches apart.I only smoked half of it, the woman said.

When? the judge asked.Eleven, the woman said.This morning or last night?This morning, the woman said.Bataillon glanced at the clock, noting that a mere three hours had passed since then.He then turned to the woman's public defender and asked him if he wanted to consult with her.

A few whispers later, the public defender requested that the hearing be continued.The judge rescheduled the hearing for later this month and urged the woman to show up sober. Bataillon noted that he'll probably include some sort of drug counseling with her sentence.The judge then gave this assessment of her courtroom behavior:

At least she can't be charged with perjury.And he told the woman he appreciated her honesty.

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Saggy pants leads to melee with police www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-05T11:34:00.000-08:00

WELLINGTON FLA. Jan 5 2008 — The Tallahassee college student at the center of last week's mall brawl between a local family and deputies had his buttocks exposed and was repeatedly warned to pull up his sagging pants before he was banned from the Mall at Wellington Green in August, sheriff's and the mall's representatives say.
Mall security warned Frantz Leger, 20, three times to adjust his clothing Aug. 16, sheriff's Capt. Greg Richter wrote in an e-mail to Wellington officials Friday recapping the incident.

deputy "said that he had the trousers down to the crack of his ass," Richter said in an interview. "He would pull them up, then pull them right back down."
The family's account is at odds with the mall and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's reports indicate that Leger became belligerent and used "obscene and racial expletives" following the mall's requests.
The mall's general manager, releasing a written statement on the incident for the first time on Friday, said that behavior, not Leger's pants, was why the mall imposed a one-year ban. That conflicts with earlier statements by both the sheriff's office and the Leger family.
The manager, Dorian Zimmer, said it was a customer who first complained about Leger's attire in August. Leger pulled up his pants after an initial request, but law enforcement saw them back down 15 minutes later in the food court, she added.
"It wasn't the fact that the underwear was exposed and baggy pants were on," Zimmer said, noting that many mall shoppers wear baggy jeans. "It was the fact that we felt the situation was indecent."
The Leger family did not return phone calls Friday. Frantz Leger, who initially said he was a student at Florida State University, actually attends Tallahassee Community College; his family has lived in Wellington since 1992.
In an earlier interview, Frantz Leger said his pants were about an inch or two off his waist and the only thing exposed were undergarments. He said he complied with mall security officers' request before they ordered him not to return to the mall.
On Dec. 27, however, Leger returned to the mall, where deputies arrested him on charges of trespassing, sparking a melee with his family that drew at least 20 deputies, a couple of canine units and a sheriff's helicopter to the mall.
Deputies say the family attempted to stop Frantz Leger's arrest. The Leger family said the deputies were the aggressors after it questioned the arrest and leveled racism charges. The family is of Haitian heritage.
Six Leger family members were arrested including Frantz Leger's parents, 52-year-old Joseph F. Leger and 50-year-old Marthe J. Leger, on charges that included resisting arrest and battery on an officer.

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College employee charged in ID theft, embezzlement www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-05T11:16:00.000-08:00

Charlotte NC Jan 5 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A woman arrested and charged with embezzlement from her job is also suspected of stealing people’s identities at Central Piedmont Community College.
The woman in question was arrested and charged New Year’s Day with two counts of embezzlement and is already out of jail. Police say a different case still under investigation allegedly involving the same person appears to be more involved.
A search warrant says the 18-year-old was a former work study student at CPCC.
Work study is a program giving students campus jobs to help them pay for college.
The former student's supervisor says the woman "used her credit card" to buy items from Wal-Mart.com. The warrant also says the supervisor saw the woman "writing down Social Security numbers and birthdates from employee files she had access to."
Police say one attempted purchase was made from a CPCC computer.
Overall, the warrant says the former student tried to buy 17 items worth just over $4,000 from various Web sites and shipping information was in her name. Those orders were cancelled due to suspected fraud.
But, one order did go through -- an MP3 player for $100.
Police searched the woman's house, confiscated computer equipment, a credit card, business card, prepaid Visa, insurance card, purse, book and student identification in other people's names.
CPCC says due to personnel matters, they can't say if names found on cards at the woman's house match CPCC employees.
It's still an ongoing investigation and the woman has not been charged in this case and that's why we're not showing her face.
Roughly the same time police started this investigation, CPCC notified employees about a possible security breach, asked them to check their credit but found no misuse of CPCC information.
There's no word if the two are connected.
CPCC officials say the college changed some of its security measures after asking employees to check their personal information.

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Shoplifters sent to prison for selling stolen items on eBay www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

FARGO, N.D. Jan 5 2008
A man who admitted helping his former girlfriend run an Internet shoplifting ring says he did not deserve a sentence that was six months longer than hers. Prosecutors and a federal judge disagreed.
David Soldier, of Moorhead, Minn., was sentenced Friday to 2 1/2 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to sell stolen goods from three states on the online auction site eBay.
Michelle Kartes, also of Moorhead, was sentenced earlier to two years in prison. Prosecutors said her sentence was appropriate because she cooperated with authorities and promised to testify against Soldier.
"That's the only difference between the two of them," Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Reisenauer said during Friday's sentencing hearing.
Authorities said Soldier and Kartes sold between $200,000 and $400,000 worth of stolen goods on eBay, targeting stores in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Defense attorney Christopher Lancaster argued that Kartes was the leader of the operation and Soldier did not deserve more time based on federal sentencing guidelines for people who supervise or manage a conspiracy.
"David is less culpable than Miss Kartes in this conspiracy," said Lancaster, who offered a chart showing Soldier was responsible for handling about 30 percent of the stolen merchandise.
"Does that make him a minor participant? No. That makes him a major participant," said Reisenauer, adding that at least a dozen other people were involved in the ring.
"Even if he (Soldier) was the No. 2 dude, that doesn't mean he was minor to anybody," Reisenauer said.
Soldier pleaded guilty in June to charges of conspiracy and possession of stolen goods. The government dropped three money laundering charges against him.
Soldier told U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson on Friday that his benefit from the ring was less than $11,000.
"For a majority of it, I wasn't there," Soldier said.
"This exploded into something greater, as if I should have known more," he said.
Lancaster complained that Soldier was never given the chance to cooperate with authorities until he was brought in to discuss the value of stolen goods.
"When my client had the chance to work in earnest on this case, he did that in good faith," Lancaster said.
Erickson said it was a professional fencing operation.
"This is serious criminal conduct," he said.

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Shoplifter runs down security officer www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-05T11:04:00.000-08:00

FREMONT CA. Jan 5 2008 — A 35-year-old man was arrested Friday afternoon on suspicion of several felonies after he was caught shoplifting, used his van as a weapon against a security agent, and then crashed the vehicle into a bystander's van about a half-mile away as he fled from authorities, police said.
No one was seriously hurt, but the arrested man and two people had to be taken to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries, Fremont police Sgt. Jeff Swadener said.
The incident happened just after 1 p.m., when three security agents at Marshalls discount store at The Hub watched a man — identified later as Hayward resident Robert Barrett — leave the store with clothes without paying for them, Swadener said.
The agents stopped the man just outside the business and then took him back into the store for questioning. But while he was sitting with the officers in an office, Barrett ran out of the room, bolted from the store and got into his van, Swadener said.
He then lightly struck one of the store security officers with the vehicle as he left the parking lot, he said.
With police searching for him, Barrett apparently took back streets from The Hub to Blacow Road, where he continued to drive north to Mowry Avenue, the sergeant said.
There he headed east on a frontage road, struck another vehicle near Donner Way and kept going. He then flipped a U-turn at Sutter Drive and headed west on a Mowry Avenue frontage road, Swadener said.

Barrett, who stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 300 pounds, then ditched his vehicle and ran across Blacow Road until he was tackled by a gang of police officers behind a fast-food restaurant, the sergeant said.
Barrett was taken to a local hospital for treatment and arrested on suspicion of petty theft, assault with a deadly weapon, hit and run and evading police.

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Police shoot Hooter murder suspect www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-02T10:10:00.000-08:00

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Jan 2 2008

Knoxville Police said officers have killed a man suspected of firing shots into a restaurant over the weekend, killing a customer and wounding an employee.
Police located 25-year-old David Michael Rudd about 10:30 p.m. Sunday behind a restaurant in the western part of the city.
Police spokesman Darrell DeBusk said Rudd refused orders to drop two weapons he carried and officers shot him several times.
DeBusk said police have not positively identified Rudd as the man who argued with a Hooters restaurant cashier over his bill early Saturday, then left the restaurant and fired shots into it.
The gunfire killed Stacey Sherman of Applegate, Mich., and wounded an assistant manager at the store.

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Parents arrested for hiding kids stolen items www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-02T10:07:00.000-08:00

SILVERHILL AL. Jan 2 2008 — The parents of a local teen who recently confessed to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property from South Alabama and North Florida residents were taken into police custody for receiving stolen property in the first degree.

Bret and Rita Helton of Silverhill were apprehended by authorities at their home on South Boulevard last Wednesday. They were released shortly thereafter awaiting their preliminary hearings.Investigators claim the couple concealed around $15,000 worth of property stolen by their son. The cache of valuables was found in a storage building near the Helton’s home and some were located in their house.Among items recovered were stereo equipment, power tools, lawn equipment, a 300 gallon fuel tank, an ATV, as well as hunting and fishing equipment.“We don’t feel like the adults knew or were involved in the initial break-ins,” Sheriff’s Department Capt. Steve Arthur said, “but they took some overt actions in order to conceal the property.”Their son, and two teenage accomplices have been charged in a rash of burglaries in recent months. Police say they were tipped off when an educator told them one of the teens was selling large quantities of designer sunglasses for cheap prices on school grounds.Among items seized when the three were arrested was a check for $24,000. The check was found to be a payment for a Caterpillar bucket truck stolen from Fairhope that they allegedly sold on eBay to a buyer in Wyoming. The buyer was contacted by investigators on his way back to Wyoming with the truck, valued at $45,000, and immediately turned around once informed it was stolen.This is an ongoing investigation, as investigators try to piece together how large this “enterprise” actually is. According to police, other items stolen in burglaries around the region include car audio equipment, clothing, 30 to 40 guns, landscape equipment, tractors, boats, trailers, all-terrain vehicles and a 2 1/2-ton logging truck.

A similar incident in the small, Central Baldwin municipality was reported in November when police seized property estimated at around $10,000.Items seized included electronic equipment, compact discs and disc players, MP3 players, phones, cigarettes, money, along with other items.Christopher Jerkins, 30, of Silverhill, was arrested and charged with six counts of theft of property, third degree, a Class A misdemeanor.Neither the Sheriff’s Department nor the Silverhill Police Department has acknowledged a link between the incidents.

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Shoplifter hits employee, runs over arm www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

COLUMBIA, Tenn. Jan 2 2008 - Columbia police are investigating an assault at a Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse store Wednesday morning.
Police said a shoplifter was leaving the store when an employee confronted him.
Columbia police said Charles Kelley hit 60-year-old Anthony Young in the head and kicked him. Young, who wears a pacemaker, required treatment at Maury Regional Hospital.
Young followed Kelley out of the store because he suspected him of shoplifting.
Young rolled underneath a car for safety.
Kelley fled in a getaway car driven by William Michael Ragsdale, 32. Ragsdale drove over Young's arm as he left the parking lot.
There was no word whether police have a shoplifting suspect in custody.
Police arrested Ragsdale and charged him with leaving the scene without giving aid to an injured person.
Police issued warrants for Kelley for allegedly shoplifting.
On Wednesday afternoon, Ragsdale posted bond, which his mother co-signed.

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Grandmother makes child shoplift for her www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

Albuqerque NM Jan 2 2008

A 45-year-old west side grandmother was released on bail Wednesday night.
Police said Vickie Barela used her 10-year-old granddaughter to take items from a Wal-Mart store over the holiday weekend.
Police claim Barela kept lookout while the 10-year-old placed items in empty shopping bags. According to court documents, Barela stood in a checkout line with a few items while the girl tried to exit the store with the stolen merchandise.
The pair were stopped by security, according to court documents.
Prosecutors have until Feb. 22 to indict Barela.
Barela is charged with felony child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

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Shoplifter flees from police twice! www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-02T09:51:00.000-08:00

FORT PIERCE FLA. Jan 2, 2008 — An eager accused shoplifter couldn't run or hide from the Fort Pierce Police Department.
Lawrence Lee Vinson, 44, of Fort Pierce faces two felony charges for escape and crimes against a public servant, as well as a few misdemeanors for larceny.
The owner of a fish and tackle business in the 300 block of U.S. 1 called 911 Wednesday when Vinson allegedly walked out of the store with a rod and reel combo. The owner confronted the suspect, but he fled south on the nearby train tracks.
A Fort Pierce police officer spotted Vinson hiding under a railroad car near Citrus Avenue, the report said. While in custody, Vinson claimed he drank half a gallon of vodka, the report said. Based on that, plus Vinson's overall behavior, the officer took the suspect to a nearby hospital for medical clearance.
While at the hospital, police said Vinson attempted to climb through the roof of a bathroom to escape. Two officers heard a lot of noise from the bathroom while Vinson was inside and found the ceiling framework pulled apart, the report said. The suspect shouted several threats at the officers during the bathroom incident and en route to the St. Lucie County Jail.

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Shoplifter carjacks driver, leads police on 2 chases www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-02T09:47:00.000-08:00

BRIDGEPORT CT. Jan 2, 2007 — A city man tried to flee from a supermarket with a load of stolen hygiene supplies by commandeering a car Thursday night, police said.
Police captured Carlos Ayala, 27, of Trumbull Avenue, following two separate chases.
He was charged with third-degree robbery, attempted carjacking, escape, sixth-degree larceny and resisting arrest. He is being held in lieu of $55,000 bond.
Police were called shortly after 10 p.m. to the Stop & Shop supermarket on Main Street to investigate a report of a shoplifting suspect who was in custody. However, as officers pulled up to the store, they saw Ayala run from the store with store security personnel in pursuit.
Police joined the chase, but Ayala tried to avoid capture by running through nearby backyards. At one point, police said, Ayala jumped into the back seat of a car stopped on Oxford Street and ordered the driver to speed away.
The man, however, refused and Ayala got out of the car and ran off, police said.
As more officers were called in, they finally cornered Ayala on Park Drive and took him into custody. During the chase, two officers suffered minor injuries.
Ayala was found to have 10 bars of Dove soap and six toothbrushes from the supermarket in his possession, police said.
But the incident was not over.
Once at police headquarters, Ayala complained about injuries and medics were called. While being treated, Ayala managed to get away from the medics and ran out of the building
Officers caught up to him on Highland Avenue, but they said Ayala refused to stop. Police said they used a Taser to disable him, but he appeared to be stunned only briefly and continued his efforts to escape. Ayala was stunned by the Taser a second time and this time was sufficiently immobilized long enough for officers to handcuff him, police said.

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Gift Card Scammers Busted www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-02T09:41:00.000-08:00

NORTH ATTLEBORO Jan 2 2008- Police seized thousands of dollars in merchandise they say was stolen from stores at Emerald Square mall with fraudulent gift cards.Two suspects were arrested Thursday night in the alleged scam and police are seeking a third suspect who eluded them, authorities said Friday.
Detective Lt. David Dawes said police are conducting an investigation into the alleged fraud. A store clerk at the Foot Locker store told police two men and a woman attempted to buy $585 in merchandise with gift cards that were rejected and attempted to call security before the suspects fled.Police arrived and found one of the men in the parking lot and the woman outside a 2007 Jeep which had been rented from Budget Rentals at Logan Airport in Boston.Inside the vehicle were Playstation 3 and X-Box game systems, computer games, clothing, and assorted gift cards. Police also seized $2,190 in mostly $100 bills from one of the suspects.Police said six stores, including Sears and Macy's department stores, were victims in the alleged fraud.
Arrested were Ashesha A. Rockette, 25, and Jermaine Phillips, 26, both of Boston.They were apprehended about 8:40 p.m. by officers Joshua McMahon, David Lowe and Jason Roy, who were assisted by Lt. Charles Nicholas and Sgt. Bart Folan.The suspects were arraigned Friday in Attleboro District Court, where they pleaded innocent to charges of larceny, fraud, identity theft and receiving stolen property.Rockette was also wanted on two Boston police warrants for failing to appear in court as a witness, police said.Phillips also was charged with using a motor vehicle without authority for failing to return the rental car by Dec. 18 and carrying a dangerous weapon. A switchblade knife was found inside the vehicle.

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Off-duty officer shoots it out with robber www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-02T09:39:00.000-08:00

A man who was shot by an off-duty sheriff's deputy while attempting to rob an adult bookstore in East Memphis Saturday may be linked to other recent robberies, authorities say.
The suspect, whom police have not identified, was critically wounded in the episode that began when he entered the Fantasy Warehouse of Memphis at the intersection of Summer and White Station at about 10 a.m. armed with a handgun.

The man approached the clerk and indicated that he was going to rob the store, said Memphis Police Inspector D.W. Boyd.
That's when Gary Gadd, 44, an off-duty Shelby County sheriff's deputy who was shopping in the store, identified himself to the suspect.
The suspect shot in Gadd's direction but missed. Gadd fired back, hitting the suspect.
None of the other patrons or the clerk was injured.
Police arrived at about 10:20 a.m., and the suspect was taken to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis in critical condition.
Officers noticed an empty White Pontiac Grand Am parked outside the store's front door with its engine still running.
Police said they believe the suspect arrived in the Pontiac -- a vehicle Boyd said has been spotted at other crime scenes and "may be involved in other crimes."
The suspect's connection to other robberies is "being investigated," Boyd said.
No charges have been filed, and the investigation by the Memphis Police Department's Safe Streets Task Force, in collaboration with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, is ongoing.
Investigators will be reviewing a store security camera.
Sheriff's spokesman Steve Shular said Gadd, who has been with the sheriff's office since 1989, has been administratively relieved of duty with pay from the fugitive division pending the investigation.
Gadd did not violate any department policies by shopping at the bookstore, Shular said.
"He's of age and chose to come here to shop," he said. "During the course of time that he was in the store, he recognized a very dangerous situation and took action."

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Dentist office employee scams thousands www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-02T09:33:00.000-08:00

NIXA MO. Jan 2, 2008- A southwest Missouri dentist might have lost at least $26,500 to an employee who oversaw his office accounting.
The employee, 42-year-old Sandra J. Martin, is charged with felony stealing at Butterfield Dentistry in Nixa.
According to a probable cause statement, dentist Michael Butterfield asked Martin to bring him his credit card statements after one of his office credit cards was declined earlier this month.
Instead of bringing the records, Martin left the office. Butterfield found a note from Martin saying she was resigning immediately.
Police said the dentist looked through records and found several discrepancies in his checkbook ledger and on his credit card statements

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Fake Cashier Check Scam Nets Arrests www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

Springfield MO. Jan 2, 2007

Two men are in custody Saturday night after using at least $3,000 worth of fake cashier’s checks at battlefield mall.Springfield Police say two men and a woman went back and forth between Dillard’s and Macy’s, paying with the fake checks worth $500 each.Police say loss prevention departments at both Macy’s and Dillards were tipped off to this scam early in the day.The suspects were using fake cashier’s checks from Great Southern Bank worth $500 dollars.They then made about six purchases total for about $100 each and then received the $400 change as cash.Security at Macy's contacted police after catching one of the men involved.When police arrived, the second man involved fled through the mall towards Dillard’s.Police caught the man with the help of an off duty officer.However, they have not found the woman or the merchandise purchased with the checks.

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Security assaulted with truck www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

A Crime Stopper tip led to the arrest of Michael Azzolina, 40, of 17179 Ursula Ave. He was wanted in a Dec. 12 battery case at a Wal-Mart in Murdock, Charlotte County.Azzolina is accused of grabbing a female shopper in the store and making obscene comments to her. After the battery, the subject followed the victim in the store for a short distance; she ran to the service desk of Wal-Mart to get help and the suspect fled the scene.The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office issued a news release on Thursday, Dec. 20 asking for the public’s help showing security camera photos of the suspect and his pickup truck.A Mid-County detective had been working on various leads but the break came when an anonymous person called Crime Stoppers after seeing the story and photos in a local newspaper, and identified Azzolina.Detectives arrested Azzolina Saturday afternoon, and after admitting to his involvement, he was charged with Battery and transported him to the Charlotte County Jail.

Man robs bank while cop stands behind him! www.privateofficer.com

2008-01-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

Boston MA. Jan. 2, 2008

A man passed a note to a bank teller yesterday in a Dorchester bank, demanding large bills and no "funny money," police said.
Little did he know, Officer Kamau Pritchard was standing right behind him, in uniform, about to pull out his service weapon and place the man under arrest.
"He doesn't realize I'm behind him," said Pritchard, 30, who has worked two years for the Boston Police Department. "He's focused on actually getting the money."
Adam Grennan, 39, of Hull, is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow in Dorchester District Court on a charge of unarmed bank robbery.
Grennan drew immediate suspicion when he entered Mt. Washington Bank at 489 Gallivan Blvd. at about 10:44 a.m., wearing large white gloves, an oversized hooded parka, and a scarf that covered his face, Pritchard said.
Pritchard, who was working a paid security detail at the bank, had stepped away from the lobby to drink a cup of tea in a back office. But he could see Grennan walk in through surveillance monitors in the office.
At the same time, an assistant manager started banging on the office door, warning Pritchard that a suspicious character looked like he was about to attempt a robbery. Eight bank employees became nervous, Pritchard said.
By the time Pritchard came back to the lobby, Grennan had allegedly passed the note. The teller stalled, before handing over a stack of bills, Pritchard said. "Then [the teller] starts saying, 'He's trying to rob me.' "
As Grennan turned around, Pritchard had his gun drawn and arrested him. The bank was closed for several hours as officers flooded the scene. Grennan was searched but was unarmed, according to the police report.
The incident was among three attempted bank robberies around Boston yesterday, police said. Suspects fled before police could arrest them in the two other cases, police said.

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Child left at mall on purpose www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-22T10:13:00.002-08:00

Child left at mall on purpose
.CHICAGO RIDGE, Ill. - A suburban Chicago woman faces child endangerment charges after she punished her 6-year-old son by leaving him at a shopping mall...
Police say the 52-year-old was frustrated by her son's habit of wandering off and decided to leave the boy at the Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall after he disappeared on December 13th.
The boy found mall security, which eventually called police when they were unable to find his mother after an hour of searching.
State child welfare officials are also investigating

Walmart employee charged with embezzlement www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-22T10:13:00.001-08:00

Walmart employee charged with embezzlement www.privateofficer.com

ROCKLAND, Maine DEC. 21, 2007 — A Union woman has been charged with embezzling $19,000 from Wal-Mart, according to Rockland police.Becky Chavanne, 57, was charged with felony theft Wednesday after a lengthy joint investigation by the Police Department's detective bureau and Wal-Mart loss prevention agents, Deputy Police Chief Wallace Tower said Thursday.Noting that the investigation is still under way, Tower declined to say what position Chavanne held at the store or when the alleged embezzlement took place. He said that to date, Detective Russell Thompson and the store had found that at least $19,000 had been taken."It's still an open investigation," Tower said. It's possible that the amount of money that Chavanne took will actually be more and others might have been involved. Right now we are still investigating this.

Man Steals 1 Million dollars of Metal by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-22T10:11:00.000-08:00

Man Steals 1 Million dollars of Metal by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com

JEFFERSONTOWN KY. DEC. 21, 2007
Jeffersontown police arrested a man Wednesday who they believe is responsible for taking more than $1 million worth of aluminum from his employer.
Police were called in when the company began to notice large amounts of metal disappearing and unaccountable.Victor B. Taveras, 35, of the 3000 Galleon Drive in Jeffersontown, has been charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking over $300.Detectives arrested Taveras after using surveillance to catch a man allegedly using a truck to try to take eight crates of products from Cardinal Shower Enclosures in the 4700 block of Shepherdsville Road, according to the arrest report.The value of the metal, which weighed about 5,600 pounds, was about $10,000, according to the report.Taveras has worked for the company for three years, said Chief Rick Sanders.During that time, the company has reported losses of about $1,048,000, Sanders said.
The investigation is ongoing and certainly other charges could be brought against Taveras police said. It seems like this one man has probably be involved in the disappearnace of this metal and we're investigating that right now.
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Security Guard Found Guilty In Shooting of Trespasser www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-22T10:10:00.000-08:00

Security Guard Found Guilty In Shooting of Trespasser www.privateofficer.com

MESA AZ. DEC 21, 2007
An elderly security guard on duty at a mine fired his shotgun and struck a rider on an ATV who was trespassing on the property. In his own words, yes, I shot the man and I'm not sure why he told investigators. On Thursday a jury found him guilty in that shooting but opted to reduce the crime to a lesser charge.
William Lee, of Mesa, could receive four to eight years in prison when he is sentenced next month.
Daniel Ashcroft of Johnson Ranch was riding quads with his wife and a friend when Lee shot him in the chest and he died at the Walker Butte gravel mine in the summer of 2006.Lee's attorney argued during the weeklong trial that the shooting was an accident, and was not criminal. Lee did not testify."I'm pleased with how the trial went and I'm pleased with the verdict," Deputy County Attorney Steve Fuller, who prosecuted the case, commented. "It's not perfect justice, but I'm generally pleased.
"Lee was actually on trial for manslaughter, but Judge Boyd Johnson instructed jurors that the lesser charge of negligent homicide, a Class 4 dangerous felony, was one of their options.The jury deliberated approximately three hours before returning the verdict Friday morning in Pinal County Superior Court.
The seventy year old ex-security guard will return to court after the holidays to learn his fate and start his sentence.

Report of armed man in store brings massive response www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-22T10:09:00.002-08:00

Report of armed man in store brings massive response www.privateofficer.com

PALM BEACH FLA. DEC. 22, 2007
Deputies evacuated a Wal-Mart near Lantana about 10 a.m. Tuesday after there were reports of a man inside with a gun, the Sheriff's Office said.About 40 deputies, several toting semi-automatic rifles, searched the aisles of the Wal-Mart, 4545 Hypoluxo Road. The entire plaza was shut for more than an hour. The man was not found.Several Christmas shoppers stood at the far stretches of the parking lot waiting to be let back in.A woman who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal said she was shopping for Christmas decorations but took a detour to the dining section when she saw a man wearing a cap and jacket talking loudly on his cell phone."Don't worry, I have a gun, and I'll take them out with me," he said, according to the woman.She rushed to a cosmetics worker and whispered what she had heard. That drew managers, store security and soon sheriff's deputies.The storewide announcement was, "All customers must leave the store," shopper Gail Jordan, 53, recalled.Jordan had a Nerf football in her hand and had to leave it at the cash register."I saw all the police come in with rifles," she said. "I said, 'I'll be back.'"By 11:30 a.m., the doors were reopening and a new flow of shoppers parked their cars and walked toward the Wal-Mart. Deputies did not find the suspect and a surveillance camera did not reveal a good picture of him, sheriff's spokeswoman Teri Barbera said. The woman who heard the comment did the right thing, she said."As a citizen, she became concerned for herself and everyone else in the store," Barbera said.The woman said she would have felt horrible if she just left the store, without reporting the man's comments. When many of the shoppers were lining up to go back inside, she headed to her car instead:EMAIL US! WE REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
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Shoplifters flee with security clinging to car www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-22T10:09:00.001-08:00

Shoplifters flee with security clinging to car www.privateofficer.com

MACEDON NY Dec. 22, 2007 — Two Monroe County men remained jailed Tuesday in connection with an alleged shoplifting incident in which they drove away while a store employee was on the hood of their car.Thomas W. Potter, 25, of Rochester, the driver of the getaway car, was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and petit larceny, according to Macedon police. Anthony V. DeGennaro, 18, of 537 Washington St., Spencerport, a passenger in the car, was charged with petit larceny and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.Potter's address was not known, police said.Both were arraigned in Macedon Town Court and sent to the Wayne County Jail. Potter's bail was set at $5,000; DeGennaro's was set at $2,500.The men were accused of shoplifting from a Wal-Mart store on Route 31 in Macedon on Monday. When security workers tried to stop them, the men drove their car toward a Wal-Mart employee and struck him. The employee, thrown onto the hood, hung on while the men drove away.The driver of the car swerved in an attempt to dislodge the employee, who managed to keep hanging on, police said. The men, heading west, eventually stopped at a nearby gas station, where the employee was able to jump off the car.Bystanders tried to stop the men, who drove away and were caught by Wayne County sheriff's Lt. Steve Sklennar.Police later recovered stolen merchandise from the car, along with drug paraphernalia and a small amount of heroin. Potter and DeGennaro admitted being addicted to heroin, said Macedon police Sgt. John Collela.The Wal-Mart employee, whose name was not released, suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment, police said.State police assisted in the criminal investigation.

Fleeing shoplifter punches elderly greeter in face www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-22T10:06:00.000-08:00

Fleeing shoplifter punches elderly greeter in face www.privateofficer.com

BELVIDERE, Ill. Dec. 22, 2007 - Police say a teenager trying to steal $1,500 worth of merchandise from a northern Illinois Wal-Mart punched a 65-year-old store worker in the face.Authorities say a greeter tried to stop Vivian Payne after she set off an anti-theft alarm as she left the Belvidere store. As the greeter attempted to get the person to return to the storeThe 19-year-old punched the woman, and ran into the parking lot where she was stopped by other Wal-Mart workers and held until police arrived.Police say Payne had more than 180 items of clothing, jewelry, candy and other goods stashed inside two garbage cans.The store worker was treated for a facial laceration.Payne faces charges for theft, battery and drug possession. Those charges could be elevated to robbery by the district attorney's office.

Shoplifting gang busted by police www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-22T10:05:00.002-08:00

Shoplifting gang busted by police www.privateofficer.com

PLAINVILLE MASS DEC.22, 2007 - Three Brockton women were nabbed by local police after a shoplifting spree and scam Tuesday throughout the Southeastern Massachusetts area, including South Attleboro.The suspects allegedly stole merchandise from TJ Maxx stores in South Attleboro, Plainville, Raynham and Stoughton, and possibly other locations, Plainville Police Sgt. Scott Gallerani said."They were more than shoplifters," Gallerani said. "They had been making their own checks and passing them off to stores as legitimate, than altering receipts so they could return property and get cash."Forged drivers' licenses and other phony identification were also used, he said.The three woman were finally caught Tuesday afternoon about 2 p.m. by Plainville police in the parking lot outside TJ Maxx in Plainville Commons off Taunton Street."TJ Maxx security alerted us to them," Gallerani said. "They were tracking them all day as they were wheeling and stealing TJ Maxxes."Police recovered nearly $1,000 in cash and $3,000 to $5,000 worth of merchandise in the trunk of the women's vehicle."Coats and handbags were the majority of evidence recovered," Gallerani said.Arrested were Patricia Barrett, 46, Jacqueline Trottman, 41, and Heather Shope, 29, all of Brockton.The women were charged with larceny over $250, receiving stolen property over $250, forgery of checks, uttering of checks and conspiracy. There may be other charges after Plainville police contact the other police departments, Gallerani added.The women were scheduled to have been arraigned Wednesday in Wrentham District Court.Plainville Police Sgt. Corrina Carter, and Patrolmen Todd Holbrook and Julie Barrett assisted in the arrests.

Great-grandmother turns gun on robbers www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-22T10:05:00.001-08:00

Great-grandmother turns gun on robbers www.privateofficer.com

Gaffney S.C. Dec. 22, 2007
Police say three high school students tried to rob the wrong woman. A great-grandmother turned the gun on the would-be robbers and then helped officers track them down.Officers say the robbers were using a weapon that belongs to a city councilman when the great-grandmother foiled their plans. The amazing story happened Tuesday night at a pet store on Floyd Baker Boulevard in Gaffney.Three Gaffney High students are charged with robbing the pet store. Police say one of the suspects is living with Gaffney city council member Bernard Smith and apparently took the gun from his home. They say Tuesday night he pointed the semi-automatic handgun at a 72-year old great-grandmother and she pointed it right back at him. Three businesses in Gaffney have been robbed this month, but police got a big break Tuesday night.Barbara Golden owns A-Pet-U-Bet pet store. Tuesday night she was there with her son-in-law and two grandchildren. She says two young men rushed in, one pointed a gun at her chest and said "give me all the money". But Barbara pulled a fast one. She told him "the man behind you has a gun," talking about her son-in-law who was only armed with a garden hose. When the robber turned his head Golden turned the tables."The gun was sort of right in front of me here. And I just reached and grabbed it with both hands, got the barrel, and I twisted it around toward him. I said, if you shoot anyone, you'll shoot yourself," said Golden.And then her son-in-law used his weapon, a garden hose. He sprayed the robbers with it and they turned and ran out the door into this neighborhood. Barbara called 911 and police arrived and caught the suspects, two 18-year-olds and a 15-year-old who police say acted as an accomplice. They are students at Gaffney High School. Police are questioning them in connection with some other business robberies in the area.LaGarrick Wilkie and Ryan Townson are both 18-years-old and are charged with armed robbery along with a 15-year-old juvenile who police say acted as an accomplice.Officials say Townson may face more charges because police say he pointed a gun at an officer as they were chasing him.
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Teenager appears to be full time shoplifter www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-22T10:00:00.002-08:00

COLUMBUS, Ohio Dec. 22, 2007
-- An 18-year-old is facing numerous theft charges this morning for allegedly stealing nearly $5,000 worth of goods this year from numerous retailers in the area.Amber Ricchi has four warrants out for her arrest after reportedly being involved in nine incidences of theft at area stores, including Meijer, Target and Kohl's, reported by area news sources and police.Assistant City Prosecutor Bill Hedrick is surprised at the amount of items, such as DVD box sets and video games, that were stolen."I've never seen anything like this before — someone of this age and this amount of, volume of, stealing," Hedrick said."We're not talking about the average shoplifter stealing a candy bar from a grocery store. We're talking about criminals going into retail establishments," said Gordon Gough who is with the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants.Sources close to the investigation said Ricchi may be operating with her boyfriend during these alleged thefts.
This appears to be their full time employment and something that they have been doing for quite a while police said. Further charges are pending as the investigation continues.
Police did not say if any of the merchandise has been recovered or if the boyfriend has been charged in these thefts.
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Husband and wife wanted in robbery www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-22T10:00:00.001-08:00

Husband and wife wanted for armed robbery of store www.privateofficer.com

ORANGE PARK, FL-Dec. 22, 2007 - Sheriff's deputies in Clay County are looking for suspects they say threatened to shoot a Sears loss prevention officer in November.
Deputies say Daniel and Angela Bowie were caught on tape shoplifting items from the Sears department store in Orange Park mall.Sears loss prevention officers say the couple walked out of the store with over $100 in stolen merchandise.Authorities say when officers confronted the Bowies, Daniel ran off. Moments later Daniel returned in a blue Ford truck. Sears loss prevention officers said, "I have a gun, let my wife go. I will shoot you all". Fearing for their safety, the officers released the co-defendant who entered the vehicle and fled the scene.
These officers were able to obtain the Bowie's license plate, Florida tag E783HJ.
Police were able to confirm the ownership of the vehicle and the robbery suspects are one in the same and have now secured criminal charges against both the husband and the wife.
If you have any information that can help authorities track down the Bowies, call the Clay County Sheriff's Department at 904-264-6512.You can also call First Coast Crimestoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS. You will remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward.
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Major shoplifting ring arrested www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-19T08:57:00.000-08:00

Salt Lake City Utah DEc. 18, 2007

For the second time in four months a major shoplifting ring targeting the outlet mall in Kimball Junction has been busted. This time, an alert store security guard in Sandy is being credited with busting the operation.Friday, a security officer at Old Navy, 10210 S. State, noticed three people acting suspiciously inside the store. The trio was walking around the store, collecting clothing and putting it in their shopping bags and then leaving the bags at different spots throughout the building, said Sandy police Sgt. Victor Quezada. Investigators believe once the group was done collecting clothes, they were planning to grab the bags all at once and run.The security guard confronted one of the men, which prompted the other two to dash out the door, Quezada said. A fourth person was waiting outside for the group. The band of robbers had two vans with Nevada license plates parked in front of the store. Two of the people got in one van and drove off.While authorities were trying to question the man detained inside the store, he too ran out the door, Quezada said. He and a woman who was one of the three people in the store collecting clothes ran off, Quezada said.
The security guard called police. A Sandy officer who happened to be in the area spotted the fleeing van, pulled it over and arrested the two men inside, Quezada said.Inside that van and the one still parked at Old Navy, detectives found approximately $13,000 worth of stolen clothing, mainly from the outlet store in Summit County. A 32-year-old man and a man who turned 34 on the day he was arrested were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. Although they were from North Las Vegas, Quezada said both were believed to be illegal immigrants. The search continued Tuesday for the man and woman who ran off.In August, two people were arrested in Summit County after more than $11,000 in merchandise was stolen from the outlet stores. Investigators were looking for two others associated in those robberies.Summit County investigators said the shoplifting ring in August was the fourth high-dollar heist in four years at the shops in Kimball Junction.

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Woman sues JC Penney security officer claiming false arrest www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-19T08:55:00.000-08:00

Overland Park Ks. Dec. 19, 2007

A local woman has filed a multi-count lawsuit in the District Court of Johnson County, Kas., over the treatment she received on June 9, 2006, after shopping for bras at the JCPenney store at Oak Park Mall. According to the suit, Ms. Krystle Carter, 22, who will graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Textile on Saturday, Dec. 15, from University of Central Mo., is suing JCPenney, City of Overland Park, Kas., Police department officer Daniel Rain and C.B.L. and Associates, John Doe and Jane Doe for several counts of false arrest and or false imprisonment and extreme and outrageous conduct. The report states that Ms. Carter was shopping for bras at the JCPenney store and found four bras that she wanted to try on. Ms. Carter did not like any of the bras she tried on, so she returned them to the rack and walked out of the store. A few moments later, she was asked by loss prevention officers, who worked for JCPenney, to return to “come with them”. A uniform officer with the Overland Park police department who, “just happened to be in the vicinity”, came over and followed Ms. Carter back to the JCPenney store. “I felt embarrassed because it was a Friday and the mall was very crowded. It looked like I was another black person who had been caught stealing,” Ms. Carter told THE CALL. “I feel like black people are being treated like fish in a fish bowl. They feel like they can reach in and pick black people out of the bowl and say they stole something and if they find out you didn’t just throw us back in the bowl. It is stereotyping us and that is not right,” she said. Ms. Carter also said that during her ordeal a black loss prevention supervisor came in and apologized to her for their mistake. “I was offended by them doing that because the black man had nothing to do with what had happened in the security room. He didn’t do anything they did,” Ms. Carter said. “It painted the picture that they could not be against black people because the loss prevention manager is a black man. I felt they were trying to manipulate me and the situation,” she said. The report also states that once Ms. Carter re-entered the store she was taken to a security room which had approximately 39 television monitors and video recording machines. One of the loss prevention specialists informed her that they wanted to show her the video recording of her movements while she was in the store. She stated that was fine. At some point during the course of the viewing, Ms. Carter learned that she was being accused of stealing one bra because she had taken four bras into the dressing room but only bought three bras out. The report indicates that it was around this time that loss prevention officers started addressing her in a “progressively” hostile manner. Ms. Carter then began to cry heavily through the ordeal which lasted over one hour. The officers told Ms. Carter that the video showed her leaving the dressing room with three bras in her left hand. However, Ms. Carter told the officers that she had one bra in her right hand and the other three bras were in her left hand and if they looked clearly they could see that she placed four bras back on the rack. Officer Rain insisted that a sensor was mysteriously discovered in the fitting room and Ms. Carter, therefore, must have the bra in her possession. Ms. Carter, then offered again, to allow the officers to search her purse. Officer Rain then began to question Ms. Carter about the bra she was wearing. He stated, a “a new bra’s label would stand up because of its newness”. A humiliated and continually crying Ms. Carter stated, “so now you want me to take off my bra”? Since no one said anything, crying and trembling, Ms. Carter removed her bra. The report indicates that the male officers did not leave the room. The ladies of the loss prevention office had to direct the men to leave the office. Ms. Carter is seeking unspecified damages for her claim. All four bras were accounted for on the rack Ms. Carter had placed them on

Mall security uses hi-tech license scanning on patrol www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-19T08:52:00.000-08:00

Sacramento Ca. Dec. 19, 2007

Holiday shoppers at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento this weekend may have noticed something besides the crowds and crowded parking.Two new high-tech security cameras are now on patrol.The cameras were paid for by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant to help keep a close watch on all the comings and goings at the busy shopping hub."We're going to be the eyes and ears of law enforcement when they can't be here," Arden Fair Mall Security Manager Steve Reed said. "We'll be able to scan plates as we go down each aisle and find stolen cars or vehicles with a felony warrant."Reed said the information from the cameras would only be shared with Sacramento police and in those cases, only plate information would be passed on to law enforcement. Other personal information about shoppers, their vehicles or their purchases is not included.If the system finds a plate match from a "hot list" of stolen cars, mall security call Sacramento police and allow officers to handle the situation.Reed said an instantaneous link between the mall and Sacramento police was expected to be fully in place by late January.Reed said the first few days since the system went online Friday went well and already proved to be a valuable tool in identifying any stolen cars among the millions who shop here.Reed said there was also another immediate benefit to shoppers: locating lost cars.Lost shoppers who can't remember where they parked can give security a few numbers or letters from their plates. Once that's keyed in, the scans and a GPS system can be used to help pinpoint the car's location among the mall's 5,500 parking spaces.After several hours of shopping Sunday, Cathy Urban of Rancho Cordova came outside to find her car lost in a virtual sea of parked vehicles."I got here at 9 (a.m.) and there weren't that many cars," Urban said. Even though Urban was able to spot her car before being forced to call for high-tech assistance, she was happy to know the system was moments away from bailing her out of the embarassing situation."I think that'd be a great thing! Very good," Urban said.Similar systems are already in use at Sacramento International Airport. Reed said anything that can be a deterrent to crime is a good thing.

Shoplifter uses wire cutters to snag item www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-19T08:49:00.000-08:00

Stuart Fla. A 34-year-old Stuart woman used her 1-year-old daughter and a pair of wire cutters in an unsuccessful attempt to shoplift more than $600 in merchandise, including a baby stroller, from Wal-Mart, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
Dinah Victoria Williams, 34, of the 2900 block of Northwest Norman Street, Stuart, was charged Saturday with felony retail theft and possession of a countermeasure to anti-shoplifting control device, a deputy’s report said.
Also charged with felony retail theft was Ashley Brook Williams, 18, of the 14700 block of Southwest Andalucia Court, Indiantown, the report said.
Dinah Williams was accused of taking a baby stroller off a shelf, cutting off the tags, placing her 1-year-old daughter in the stroller and walking around the store, the report said.
Dinah Williams and Ashley Williams also were accused of placing clothes and other items in a diaper bag, the report said.
Dinah Williams was accused of scanning $35.56 worth of merchandise at a self-checkout station, a deputy’s report shows. The other 25 items, worth $617.87, were bagged and placed in a shopping cart, which Ashley Williams allegedly tried to wheel out an exit, the report said.Both women were arrested, and the 1-year-old was turned over to a family member, a deputy’s report shows.

Police capture professional shoplifters www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-19T08:47:00.000-08:00

WEST NYACK NY Dec. 19, 2007- A man and a woman from Queens were arrested Saturday afternoon after they were found with more than $3,500 worth of merchandise stolen from stores at the Palisades Center and Woodbury Common, the Clarkstown police said.
A security guard at a nearby store noticed Jesus Villarreal Ramirez, 28, and Nadia Kana, 22, both of Corona, twice filling booster bags with items and leaving Victoria's Secret at the Palisades Center without paying, said police Sgt. Harry Baumann. Booster bags are shopping bags lined with lead to prevent security sensors from detecting the tagged items inside.
After the second trip, they drove south on the Thruway in a rental car and were intercepted at the Tarrytown toll plaza by state and Clarkstown police, Baumann said.
Merchandise worth $3,569 was found in the car: $1,320 from Victoria's Secret; $1,085 from the Gap; $472 from Express Women; $305 from Tommy Hilfiger; and $387 from The Children's Place, Baumann said. Items were stolen from the Palisades Center and from Woodbury Common in Orange County, he said.
Incidents of petty shoplifting typically increase around the holiday season, but Baumann described these two suspects as professionals. He said professional shoplifters typically hit Woodbury Common, the Palisades Center and the Galleria mall in White Plains, and the suspects probably were on their way to the Galleria.
"These are professionals and they do this for a living ... year in and year out," he said. "It's usually a route that they do."
Police also found that the rental car had been borrowed with false identification, he said.
Ramirez and Kana were arrested on charges of fourth-degree grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and unauthorized use of a vehicle, all felonies; and possession of burglar's tools and criminal possession of an anti-security device, both misdemeanors. Ramirez was also charged with second-degree possession of a forged instrument, a felony. They were being held in the Rockland jail with bail set at $20,000 each.

Police chase shoplifters www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-19T08:44:00.000-08:00

FORT WALTON BEACH FLA. Dec. 19, 2007 — Two women, one of them known by 15 other names, were arrested Thursday night after a shoplifting incident turned into a police chase. Betsy Eyvonne Cole, 50, of Pensacola, and Lavette Lachawn Moore, 32, of Lafayette, La., were each charged with larceny, a felony, and resisting arrest, police said. Moore was also charged with fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement and possession of narcotic equipment. Cole has used 15 aliases at one time or another, according to the report.

Around 5:30 p.m., a woman left the J.C. Penney’s store at Santa Rosa Mall with a bag of clothing. The women fled in a car, driving recklessly on Hollywood Boulevard, the report said. They were caught after fleeing on foot around Bryn Mawr Boulevard. Merchandise from the Penney’s robbery was found in the vehicle, the report said.

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Family act of shoplifting www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-19T08:40:00.001-08:00

MANCHESTER, N.H. Dec. 19, 2007- A store clerk, her sister and brother-in-law have been charged in a shoplifting scam in Manchester (New Hampshire).
Police say the three were arrested Sunday night at Macy's at the Mall of New Hampshire after store security reported that cashier Aysa Castro of Goffstown only pretended to scan merchandise brought to her register by her sister and brother-in-law, Mara Castro and Vincent Chaney, also of Goffstown.
Police say security watched as the employee scanned two items and pretended to scan the rest. Security said the couple paid for the two scanned items and left the store with all of the merchandise, where they were detained and the police were notified.

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Shoplifter's story www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-19T08:39:00.000-08:00

WHITE PLAINS - She may have thought her friend's dad would bail her out; instead, he turned her in.
A 17-year-old Stamford, Conn., girl was charged with second-degree forgery, a felony, and false impersonation, a misdemeanor, after she and a 17-year-old friend, also from Stamford, were both arrested in a store theft in White Plains.
Rhiannon Stefanick and Jena Alcan were picked up shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday after security officers at the Neiman Marcus store, 1 Paulding St., told police that $1,025 worth of clothing had been stolen. Both were arrested and taken to police headquarters, where they were charged with petty larceny, a misdemeanor.
Police said that while she was being processed, Alcan told officers that her last name was Stefanick and that she lived at the same address as Rhiannon Stefanick. She then signed the booking papers, using Stefanick as her last name, police said.
When Rhiannon Stefanick's father came to post the $500 bail for his daughter, he told police that Alcan had lied to them. Alcan later admitted that she had lied and was hit with the additional charge.

Police, security conduct shoplifting blitz www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-19T08:36:00.000-08:00

Police, security conduct shoplifting blitz www.privateofficer.com

Saginaw Township MI. Dec. 19, 2007
Saginaw Township police believe they have put a big dent in the annual Christmas season shoplifting spree by arresting 27 suspects and recovering more than $8,000 in stolen goods.Members of the Township Shoplifting Task Force, which includes police and local store loss prevention agents organized a retail fraud blitz Thursday and Friday.
The officers and store security spread out over the township and concentrated on retail theft for several days. The joint effort paid off with with a large number of arrests and a substantial recovery of stolen merchandise police said.They caught two more suspects Saturday, a 44-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman. The pair have a long history of retail fraud.Township Officer Chris Fredenburg said that about 1:30 p.m. Saturday security agents saw the two concealing about nine purses inside a large tote bag, but they were unable to stop them before they took off but police officers were able to track them down and took them into custody.
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Officer fires shot at shoplifter fleeing mall www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-17T00:14:00.001-08:00

DURHAM NC DEC. 16, 2007 - A Durham officer fired a shot at a shoplifting suspect outside Northgate Mall on Thursday evening in an attempt to stop the man from running over a Durham County sheriff’s deputy with a vehicle, police said.A Sears loss prevention officer told Northgate security that a man had taken a 343-piece Craftsman tool set, valued at $700, and placed it near an exit, said Kim Walker, Durham police spokeswoman. Officers encountered the suspect, identified as Mark Howard Rook, 42, of Hillsborough, about 9 p.m. in the store’s parking lot.With the large tool set under his arm and ignoring commands by officers to stop, Rook got into his vehicle and began driving, Walker said. The Durham officer, fearing the deputy was in danger of being hit by the vehicle, fired a shot, Walker said. She said that she did not know where the bullet went but that no one was injured.The department would not release the name of the officer who fired the shot.Under Durham Police Department policy, officers are not permitted to shoot at a moving vehicle “except in those situations where the immediate probability of serious injury or death exists for the officer(s) and/or an innocent third party.” That policy also says officers must believe that using deadly force is the only way to protect themselves and others in a situation.About an hour later, officers apprehended Rook in a wooded area near where the Durham Freeway intersects with Interstate 85. Rook faces multiple charges, including larceny, driving with a revoked license and assault with a deadly weapon on a government official.Rook’s extensive criminal record includes multiple shoplifting and larceny convictions. He was released from prison last month after serving more than a year for larceny.The department’s Professional Standards Division will review the officer’s actions, which is standard every time an officer discharges a handgun.

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OFFICER DOWN.......ALABAMA

2007-12-17T00:12:00.000-08:00

OFFICER DOWN…….ALABAMA

Huntsville Police DepartmentAlabamaEnd of Watch: Saturday, December 15, 2007Biographical InfoAge: 36Tour of Duty: 3 yearsBadge Number: Not availableIncident DetailsCause of Death: GunfireDate of Incident: Friday, December 14, 2007Weapon Used: HandgunSuspect Info: ApprehendedOfficer William Freeman was shot and killed when he and his partner responded to an automobile accident on Bailey Cove Road, near Weatherly Road, at approximately 8:45 pm. When they arrived at the scene they located one of the subjects sitting on a curb.As they approached the subject, and attempted to arrest him for DUI, the man produced a handgun and shot Officer Freeman in the face. The other officer, with the help of two bystanders, was able to subdued the suspect and taken him into custody.Officer Freemen was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds the following morning.Officer Freeman had served with the Huntsville Police Department for 3 years. He is survived by his wife and five children.Agency Contact InformationHuntsville Police Department815 Wheeler AvenueHuntsville, AL 35801Phone: (256) 427-7009

Your Tip for The Day-DON'T Steal From The Cops www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-17T00:11:00.000-08:00

CINCINNATI OHIO Dec. 15, 2007 — Today's crime tip: don't steal police officers' tips. Police arrested Vincent Balough, 46, on on charges of theft and obstructing official business.Police said Balough took a $12 tip that two Cincinnati police officers left after eating at a restaurant downtown. Police were notified and they returned in time to snag the tip thief.Balough was jailed Wednesday night pending a court hearing.
We're not sure how they came up with the obstruction of official business charge unless eating is now "official business" but nonethe less they carted him off to the city jail to teach him a lesson and because stealing is against the law of course.
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Store clerk steals shoplifters credit card www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T21:42:00.000-08:00

Bulloch County Dec. 14, 2007

I've seen and heard a lot of shoplifting stories in my day, but this one is different....

A convenience store clerk who nabbed three shoplifters did a little taking herself when she stole one of the offender's credit card, said Bulloch County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Gene McDaniel. On Nov. 28, Bulloch County Sheriff's deputies were called to Time Saver #17 at the corner of Sinkhole Road and Ga. 46 regarding a shoplifting incident, he said. Two men and a woman entered the store and tried shoplifting "eight cans of beer," he said. When the clerk, Valerie Regina Hearns, 31, Cedarwood Acres, caught and confronted them, the two men fled the store and took off in a vehicle, leaving the woman behind. "The female called them on the cell phone," asking the men to return to the store, and they did, he said. Hearns called deputies, who arrived and placed the two men under arrest, he said. But when they ran, one man dropped his wallet, McDaniel said. Hearns found it and later handed it over to deputies, but not before she "took his credit or debit card," he said. The deed wasn't discovered until Dec. 5, when the shoplifting suspect came to the sheriff's department to report someone had been making unauthorized charges on his credit card. Investigation revealed Hearns had used the card twice at the store where she worked, Time saver #17, where her mother was manager, McDaniel said. The same night she caught the shoplifting suspects, Hearns charged $65 and $82 to the credit card at the convenience store. Then, over the next four days she charged "about $25 at Krystal," made two charges at other convenience stores for $30 each, and she and another unknown person were videotaped at Wal-Mart using the card, he said. There, the unknown person had possession of the card and swiped it at the register to the tune of about $230, he said. Hearns was visibly identifiable in the store video, he said. Deputies arrested Hearns, charging her with one charge of financial transaction card theft and four counts of financial transaction card fraud, he said. Hearns was taken to the Bulloch County Jail where she remains without bond, a jail spokesman said Wednesday.

Shoplifters run officer down and flee www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T21:23:00.002-08:00

Sevierville TN. Dec. 15, 2007 – Three Nashville women will face various charges related to a Sevier County shoplifting incident.
It happened Wednesday evening at Tanger Five Oaks Mall.

According to officers with the Sevierville Police Department, they responded to the call around 5:15 PM at the Children’s Place store.
When an officer tried to stop the alleged shoplifters from leaving the scene, he was struck by their car but not injured.
About an hour later, Pigeon Forge police officers tried to stop the same vehicle near the south end of the Parkway.
That’s when three women inside it exited the car and tried to flee the scene.
Two of the three women were quickly arrested and the third was finally tracked down 45 minutes later by police from Pigeon Forge and Sevierville
Inside the car police found more than $3,000 worth of stolen merchandise.
Sevierville police charged Felicia T. Crowder, 22 of Nashville with theft, driving on a suspended license, reckless driving, aggravated assault and resisting arrest
Michelle E. Beasley, 20 of Nashville was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of stolen property
The third person arrested is Shadricka S. Bostick, 24 of Nashville who will face charges for possession of stolen property.
All three women will face separate charges from the Pigeon Forge police.

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Sears Portrait employee busted for Identity Theft www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T21:10:00.000-08:00

GREENVILLE N.C. DEC. 15, 2007

A woman who took people's pictures for a living had her own picture taken -- a mug shot by police after her arrest.
The employee of the Sears Portrait Studio is accused in an identity theft and fraud scheme that involved thousands of dollars in illegal credit applications and thousands more on illegal credit charges.

Greenville police say a Crime Stoppers tip led to the arrest.

Shakiema Mosley was arrested Wednesday when she reported for work. Greenville police say the scheme involved $64,750 in illegal credit applications and $29,606 in credit charges.
Police say the employee illegally used the victim's personal information to open numerous credit accounts.
Mosley is charged with ten counts of felonious identity theft, ten counts of criminal receipt of goods, eight felony counts of financial transaction card fraud, and two felony counts of attempted obtaining property by false pretense.
Mosley is in jail on a $47,500 bond.

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Woman using fake gift certificates arrested www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T21:05:00.000-08:00

Valley Sream NY Dec. 15, 2007 An attempt to spend fake gift checks brought an early end to the Christmas shopping season for a Queens woman who tried to pass the bogus documents to several cashiers Wednesday morning at the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, Nassau police said.Kifana J. Longdon-Lawrence, 24, of 158-08 137th Ave., Jamaica, first tried to pass a fraudulent American Express gift check at Macy's, but the store security manager called American Express to validate the gift checks because of a cashier's suspicions, police said.As the manager called American Express, Longdon-Lawrence left the store and went to an Old Navy where she succeeded in using one of the fake checks to buy merchandise, police said. She then went back to the same Macy's store -- but a different department -- to try to pass another check, police said.
There, she was arrested and charged with three counts of possession of a forged instrument.Longdon-Lawrence was scheduled for arraignment on Thursday in First District Court, Hempstead.

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Officer shoots at fleeing shoplifter www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T20:55:00.000-08:00

Durham NC DEC. 14, 2007

It happened around 9 p.m. with an officer responding to a shoplifting call. Police say the suspect identified as Mark Rook tried speeding out of the parking lot. The officer felt threatened and fired a shot at the car. Police say that as the officer was approcahing the vehicle Rook put in reverse toward the officer.
Another officer got behind Rook on Interstate 85 and followed him to the Durham Freeway. That's where police say he jumped out and ran into the woods.
Officers chased Rook and took him into custody. He's been charged with larceny; resist, delay and obstruction; driving with a revoked license; and assault with a deadly weapon on a government official.
As the investigation continues Durham Police officials say the department will conduct an internal review as standard procedure when an officer discharges a gun.

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Low paying guards have even bigger payroll headaches! www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T20:53:00.000-08:00

Guards dont get paid
Low paying guards have even bigger payroll headaches! www.privateofficer.com

Philadelphia PA. Dec. 13, 2007
Being a security guard in the Philadelphia Housing Authority's Westpark Towers is not a good job. You sit all day in a tiny booth, in the lobby of a West Philly high rise, and flip a switch to grant entry to project residents. You're given minimal training, no gun and there's no bulletproof glass to protect you. If you witness a crime, you're expected to notify PHA police, then sit and wait. And your pay rate is paltry — just above $7 an hour, with no benefits. You'd expect, at least, to actually get paid.But for guards employed by one PHA subcontractor, collecting remuneration has become a challenge lately. The Bethlehem-based Oakley Services Inc. holds the security contract for 11 Philadelphia public housing sites; PHA pays Oakley to provide security, and Oakley hires and pays guards. In recent months, however, Oakley has struggled to keep its end of the bargain: It's been habitually late in delivering its employees' compensation; has failed to provide payment in full; has written checks that bounced; and has even, on two occasions, paid its guards in cash.
The trouble began on Friday, Aug. 24. It was supposed to be a payday, but that afternoon, instead of delivering checks, an Oakley supervisor came to Westpark and said the guards would have to wait until Tuesday for their compensation."No reason, no explanation," says a guard who, like several others, asked that her name not be used for fear of retribution.Tuesday came and went without pay. A few days later, Oakley guards from numerous sites were summoned to the community center at the Westpark development (near 46th and Market, it includes three high-rise towers). There, they saw PHA police standing over a table covered with piles of cash. The guards were handed their checks, told that, for logistical reasons, they would have to sign them back over, and then given their pay (rounded to the nearest dollar) in cash.The following Friday, Sept. 7, the guards were due to be paid again. This time they were given envelopes containing cash equal to about half of what they'd earned. One guard's envelope was labeled: "NET 457.60. Received $250.00.""They still owe us from that half," says a guard.Oakley attempted to prove to its guards that it was trying to pay them. It passed out a memo, dated Aug. 31 on Oakley letterhead, stating, "Due to financial miscommunication with our contractor Philadelphia Housing Authority our employees at Oakley security has [sic] not been paid since 8/8/07 ... we are trying to expedite this matter as quickly as possible." It also supplied a copy of an e-mail, sent Aug. 23 from Oakley's Jennifer Cunningham to PHA's Alicia Wilson, asking PHA to wire $45,000 into Oakley's account so the company could make payroll. Cunningham makes reference to "outstanding invoices" and writes, "We are really in a tough spot right now and need some assistance."Still, the problems persisted. Though Oakley resumed paying guards with checks, payment was rarely punctual. Payday was moved to Wednesday, but the guards waited until Thursday, Friday and the next week for their compensation. When the guards received their checks, another problem arose: Some were no good."A couple of times they sent me to the bank and my paycheck bounced," says former Oakley guard Artellia Fisher. Another guard cashed her check at Terminal Check Service Inc. at Broad and Olney, and was later informed that the check had been rejected."The bank said there was no money in the account," says Marvin Sabulsky, proprietor of Terminal Check Cashing. Sabulsky says he faxed proof of the problem to Oakley and when he didn't hear back, filed a claim against them for $498.29. He won't accept checks from the company anymore.Fisher says the problems got so bad that guards "had to [cash their checks] that very day, because if you go tomorrow, there might not be any money left."This," she says, "is ridiculous."Oakley Services Inc. was founded in 1992 by Robert Oakley Jr. In addition to security, the certified minority-owned business performs private investigations, forensics and construction management. It received its contract with PHA through an open-bid process, according to PHA spokesman Kirk Dorn. The agreement, which began in April 2005 and expires in April 2010, calls for Oakley to provide security at 11 sites for 700 hours a week. Oakley is paid $14.42 per position, per hour (this rate covers the guards, administrative costs and profits). It employs about 65 guards. Asked about Oakley's struggles to make payroll, Dorn says, "Oakley is very good at providing security. Unfortunately, they haven't been so good about providing paperwork." PHA requires Oakley to submit invoices, Dorn explains, which Oakley has frequently failed to do. As a result, PHA hasn't paid them on time, and Oakley hasn't had money to pay guards.PHA and Oakley have met to discuss this problem, and Oakley has committed to meet deadlines, Dorn says — though guards say their pay continues to arrive late. Should the problem persist, of course, the quality of Oakley's service could be compromised, because guards could quit or take the job less seriously."If they continue [to miss deadlines], we would have to take action at some point," Dorn says.Oakley headquarters did not return repeated calls for comment on its paperwork problems, cash payments, and whether it intends to reimburse Terminal Check Cashing or provide guards with the remaining half of a check they say they are owed. While Oakley's problems may stem from minor logistical errors, their effects have been anything but small to those who've borne the brunt of the mistakes. Many Oakley guards live paycheck to paycheck, and have struggled to pay bills."We can't keep telling the landlord we didn't get paid this week," says one. Indeed, guards have received eviction and shut-off notices; one suffered the indignity, more appropriate for a child out sick from school, of having an Oakley supervisor write a letter to PGW confirming that she hadn't received her pay.A few weeks ago, Oakley employees contacted the local Jobs with Justice chapter, which they knew was working to provide representation to security guards at Penn and Temple in the absence of a union [News, "Allied Affront," Aug. 28, 2007]. JWJ put the guards in touch with a lawyer, who may represent them in a class-action lawsuit, and is investigating whether Oakley is in violation of wage laws for government-funded jobs (PHA receives city and federal funding, and it's possible they could be required to give the guards a raise).In the meantime, numerous working Philadelphians who were barely scraping by to begin with are having an even harder time of it. One Oakley guard who spent more than half his life incarcerated for robbery, drug and parole-violation charges, says his security job is the cornerstone of his effort to get on the straight and narrow. He doesn't think his family will allow him to fall back into a life of crime. But not getting paid for his honest work has made the straight path that much harder to follow."If I can't rely on a job ... " he says, trailing off.

Officer attacked in store www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T20:50:00.000-08:00

ATHENS, Ga. -- An Athens-Clarke County police officer working off-duty at a Kroger was viciously attacked by a man with a butcher knife, police say.
Officials say Sgt. Courtney Gale was working off-duty in uniform at a Kroger grocery store on Alps Road in Athens Tuesday night when someone told her about a suspicious man who was opening meat in one of the store's aisles.
Gale approached the man and authorities said he "wantonly and viciously" attacked her with a butcher knife they believe he stole from the store.
Officials said Gale received numerous stab wounds and hospital officials said her injuries are serious.
Other citizens in the store were able to help the officer and subdue the suspect. Athens-Clarke County officials said after a brief foot chase, they arrested Steven Anthony Eberhart, 44. He has been charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, felony obstruction and misdemeanor obstruction.
An account has been set up for the officer at SunTrust Bank. Anyone interested in making a donation to this account may do so at any SunTrust branch or mail to SunTrust Bank, Attention: Heidi Spratlin, 1022 Prince Ave, Athens, Georgia, 30606

Two dead in malll robbery shooting www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T20:48:00.000-08:00

Two dead in malll robbery shooting www.privateofficer.com

Boca Raton Fla. Dec. 13, 2007 - Police said the two bodies found in an SUV on the south side of the Sears department store at the mall were a 47-year-old woman and an 8-year-old girl killed during a robbery.The gruesome discovery came about midnight Thursday in a Chrysler Aspen sport utility vehicle and the victims were identified as Nancy Bochicchio, 47, and Joey Bochicchio-Hauser, 8, of west of Boca Raton. An undisclosed amount of money was taken.This case may be related to a previous robbery that occurred at the Boca Raton Town Center Mall in August 2007, police said.
Our Investigators are continuing to pursue all possible leads and investigative angles," a media release said. "In this regard, we ask that the public continue to be vigilant and conscious of their surroundings while shopping and report any suspicious activity to police immediately."The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office will determine the exact cause of death.Police are asking anyone with information to call detectives, 561-368-6201, or Crime Stoppers, 800-458-8477.

OFFICER DOWN....SOUTH CAROLINA WWW.PRIVATEOFFICER.COM

2007-12-15T20:47:00.000-08:00

OFFICER DOWN....SOUTH CAROLINA WWW.PRIVATEOFFICER.COM

COLUMBIA S.C. DEC. 15, 2007
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A sheriff's deputy collapsed and died from a heart attack after a car chase early Friday near downtown Columbia and authorities were searching for the driver who fled.An autopsy showed that Deputy Darral Lane, 41, died from a heart attack, Sheriff Leon Lott said. Lane had wrestled the two passengers in the car to the ground and got one into handcuffs."You see him stand up and grab a hold of his thigh. He falls to his knees and then he falls to the ground," Lott said.The two passengers, who were picked up by other deputies, will not be charged in the case, Lott said. The driver, 34-year-old Matthew Denny Hooks, was still being sought by deputies Friday afternoon. He has been charged with failing to stop for a blue light.Lane was a retired Army veteran, who apparently had a heart condition that he may have been unaware of, Lott said.Lane stopped Hooks' Acura after noticing some suspicious activity at a convenience store about 5:30 a.m. near Interstate 20, sheriff's Lt. Chris Cowan said.The car sped off, stopping behind a house after about two miles.Three people jumped out of the car and the driver fled into a nearby wooded area as the deputy tried to apprehend the other two men, he said.The man initially put in handcuffs attempted to help the deputy after he collapsed, Lott said. The people who lived in the home where the car stopped called 911 after seeing the lights.Cowan said the tags on Hooks' Acura appeared to belong to a vehicle stolen from Lexington County, but Lott said there was no evidence of any crime at the convenience store before the traffic stop.Columbia police and the South Carolina Highway Patrol were assisting in the search of an area of roughly two square miles.The name of the officer who died was not immediately released. Sheriff Leon Lott planned to hold a news conference later Friday, Cowan said.Columbia police and the South Carolina Highway Patrol were assisting in the search of an area of roughly two square miles.

Shoplifter attempts to stab security while fleeing www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T20:45:00.000-08:00

Shoplifter attempts to stab security while fleeing www.privateofficer.com

ORANGE PARK, Fla. Dec. 15, 2007-- A shoplifting incident Thursday evening at Orange Park Mall became an armed robbery when one of the suspects pulled a knife and tried to stab a security guard, according to the Clay County Sheriff's Office.Deputies said a man and woman who attempted take a shopping cart with about $1,000 in merchandise out of the Sears store about 7:45 p.m. without paying. When they were confronted by a store loss-prevention officer, the man allegedly pulled a knife and attempted to stab the officer. They then ran out of the mall and sped off in a white Chevrolet pickup truck.Deputies pursued the pickup into Jacksonville, but broke off the chase for safety reasons. They later learned the vehicle was reported stolen. It was found abandoned Friday morning.
Clay County officials told Channel 4's Dan Leveton that these two are a threat to the community."He was so violent, by coming back and brandishing a knife," CCSO Sgt. Joey Jett said. "It was apparent they would do anything in attempt to get away with this merchandise."If and when caught, the pair faces charges of armed robbery, assault, grand theft and fleeing police.Detectives working the case released surveillance photos of the man and woman and hope that someone recognizes them.Anyone with any information that could help detectives is asked to call Detective Ken West at 904-213-6760.
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State Trooper Shot and Killed By Son www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T20:41:00.000-08:00

State Trooper Shot and Killed By Son www.privateofficer.com

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — An off-duty state police officer was shot and killed in Las Cruces early Thursday. Las Cruces police arrested the woman's son and charged him with an open count of murder.Authorities didn't immediately release additional details in the death of Officer Susan Kuchma, 43, saying the investigation was continuing.Las Cruces police identified the gunman as Justin Quintana, 25.Investigators said Kuchma, a five-year state police veteran, was shot once and died at the scene about 2:30 a.m. Officers found a handgun at the scene, Las Cruces police spokesman Dan Trujillo said.Kuchma was married to another state police officer, patrolman Patrick Kuchma, state police spokesman Lt. Rick Anglada said. The Kuchmas are stationed in the state police's District 4, which has headquarters in Las Cruces.Students walked around yellow crime scene tape in the cordoned-off area Thursday morning. Residents described the neighborhood as made up largely of young families.District Attorney Susana Martinez, who had worked with Susan Kuchma on various drunken driving cases, said the officer handled herself with professionalism."She wasn't pushy, or bossy," Martinez said. "She was none of those things. She was really a good people person. She underwent her job the way she was supposed to."
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OFFICER DOWN.......ALABAMA www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T20:39:00.000-08:00

OFFICER DOWN.......ALABAMA

Huntsville Police DepartmentAlabama
End of Watch: Saturday, December 15, 2007
Biographical InfoAge: 36Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not availableIncident DetailsCause of Death: GunfireDate of Incident: Friday, December 14, 2007Weapon Used: HandgunSuspect Info: ApprehendedOfficer William Freeman was shot and killed when he and his partner responded to an automobile accident on Bailey Cove Road, near Weatherly Road, at approximately 8:45 pm. When they arrived at the scene they located one of the subjects sitting on a curb.As they approached the subject, and attempted to arrest him for DUI, the man produced a handgun and shot Officer Freeman in the face. The other officer, with the help of two bystanders, was able to subdued the suspect and taken him into custody.Officer Freemen was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds the following morning.Officer Freeman had served with the Huntsville Police Department for 3 years. He is survived by his wife and five children.
Agency Contact InformationHuntsville Police Department815 Wheeler AvenueHuntsville, AL 35801Phone: (256) 427-7009

Store hit twice for large ticket items www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T17:20:00.001-08:00

Myrtle Beach S.C. Dec. 15, 2007 Police are investigating the theft of more than $3,000 worth of merchandise at a Seaboard Street store for the second time in less than a month.
An employee at Circuit City on Tuesday told police he stopped a woman from stealing nearly $3,000 of merchandise, according to a report from the Myrtle Beach Police Department.
On Nov. 24, a man successfully stole a pair of large televisions valued at $2,059.24 from the store.
In Tuesday's incident, a would-be shoplifter wasn't so lucky. A woman attempted to exit the store with a shopping cart full of video games and video equipment. The cart was covered with spider wrap, police said.
When she exited, the store's security alarm sounded.
The 56-year-old employee chased the woman to her vehicle.
The worker told police a man sitting in the vehicle yelled for the woman to get in.
"There was a male supposedly sitting there with the trunk up," said Myrtle Beach police spokesman Capt. David Knipes. "When the female came out running with the stuff, he took off running toward Home Depot."
Police said the woman then jumped into the driver's seat. As the store employee was writing down the vehicle's license plate number, the woman bumped into him.
The employee, who said he suffered an injury to his hip, told police that when he walked to the side of the vehicle, the woman pulled out of the parking space.
Knipes said the woman picked up the man nearby and they fled.
The merchandise - which consisted of 10 Playstation 2 video game consoles, 22 video games and 6 Xbox video game controllers - was returned to the store.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Knipes said the vehicle had not been located by police.
Myrtle Beach Police obtained a copy of the store's video surveillance from the most recent incident and are investigating.
Knipes said the woman, if caught, could be charged with aggravated assault with a high and aggravated nature and grand larceny.
The earlier theft remains under investigation, he said. Chuck Simonson, an operations manager for Circuit City in Myrtle Beach, deferred all questions to Circuit City's corporate office in Richmond, Va.
A public relations spokesperson there had no comment.

Shoplifter escapes police custody www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T17:09:00.000-08:00

Tracy CA. Dec. 15, 2007

Tracy police arrested a suspected shoplifter on the 400 block of 23rd Street near Bessie Avenue after a K-9 unit cornered him in a backyard shed. The man was taken to Sutter Tracy Community Hospital for treatment of dog bite wounds before he was booked into San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp on suspicion of theft, escape from police custody, resisting arrest and parole violation.

Mark Duxbury said the man, whose name was not available Thursday afternoon, was reportedly caught shoplifting at Target in West Valley Mall earlier in the afternoon. The arresting officer was on the way back to police headquarters to book the man shortly before 2 p.m. when the suspect apparently got one of his hands free from his restraints. Duxbury said it’s unclear whether he slipped his hand through the cuff or managed to pick the lock, but the officer noticed the man was doing something suspicious and pulled over the patrol car on the 2000 block of North Tracy Boulevard. The officer was about to cuff the man again when he bolted from the patrol car and ran east through Tracy Ball Park. Police last saw him on the 400 block of West 22nd Street. At that point, police believed he might have hopped into a car driven by another person, but officers continued to search the neighborhood. Duxbury said a neighbor saw the man jump a fence into another backyard. The person flagged down officers, who checked the house and found nobody home. They then checked the backyard, where a police dog alerted officers to someone in a shed. The man still resisted arrest. “He knocked a hole in the roof trying to get away,” Duxbury said, adding that the police dog stopped the man, and officers took him into custody.

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Professional shoplifter arrested 43 times! www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T16:55:00.000-08:00

YOUNGSTOWN OH. DEC. 15, 2007 — The Ohio Reformatory for Women has a lot of activities to keep Lavette Boone's mind off thievery.
The professional shoplifter — her record dates back to 1983 — has been sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years' supervised release. The sentence was handed down Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court by Judge Maureen A. Sweeney.
Mahoning County court records show most of Boone's thieving took place at stores in Boardman. She also had a few cases in Austintown, Canfield and Youngstown.
In many cases at sentencing, judges ordered that Boone stay away from the various stores where she was caught stealing.
Boardman Lt. Don Hawkins said Boone's first arrest in the township took place in 1983. She amassed 43 arrests there over the years, the final three this year.
Hawkins said Boone stole clothes, mostly, for resale.
"She did it for a living," Hawkins said. "There's other shoplifters out here involved in the same ring."
He estimates 10 more "professionals" operate in the township. He said police will try for the same type of prosecution that befell Boone.
Although Boone, of Cambridge Avenue, pleaded guilty to three counts of felony theft in mid-October, she failed to show up at the Ohio Adult Parole Authority to participate in a presentence investigation as ordered by Judge Sweeney. The judge then issued a warrant and ordered that Boone be held in jail without bond pending sentencing. Records show she's been in jail since Dec. 7.

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Guard imposter robs bank www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T16:48:00.000-08:00

Ellicot City MD. Dec. 15, 2007 Police arrested a Pennsylvania man today who they say posed as an armored-car driver yesterday and took what they said was a large amount of cash from an Ellicott City bank.Police in York, Pa., arrested Robert Allen Flanagan, 37, of Dallastown, Pa., at his home about 12:30 a.m. today, according to the Howard County Police Department. Flanagan is a former employee of Dunbar Armored Inc., police said.About noon yesterday a man walked into the Bank of America in the 9100 block of Route 40 dressed as a Dunbar security employee and left with bags of money, police said. Bank employees recognized Flanagan but became suspicious after he left in what appeared to be a personal car, police said. The employees then contacted Dunbar and confirmed that the pickup was not authorized.

Investigators identified Flanagan after watching surveillance video from the bank.A department spokeswoman said it is not yet known how much money was taken. Flanagan is expected to be returned to Maryland to face charges of felony theft. The incident is not considered a robbery because no force or threat of force was used.

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Walmart employee arrested www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T16:44:00.000-08:00

NEW HARTFORD NY DEC. 15, 2007 - The New Hartford Police Department arrested a Wal-Mart employee following a complaint that was filed which alleged that LaToya Robinson, age 20, of Utica, stole from the store while being employed there.The complaint filed by Wal-Mart states that while employed as an associate of Wal-Mart, Robinson used her position as a cashier to void items from customers transaction yet still allowed the customer to take the voided items. Wal-Mart also alleges that during the same transaction Robinson failed to collect $160.99 in cash due from the customer.In a second incident during the month of November, which also involved Robinson, a fellow associate of Robinson’s filed paperwork claiming that Robinson stole the fellow associates Portable Play Station game system from a jacket that was hung on the employee coat rack in the store.Officer Christopher J. Burns states that while he and a second New Hartford Police Officer attempted to place Robinson into handcuffs Robinson physically struggled with the two Officers in an attempt to prevent herself from being placed into the handcuffs. Burns states that the Officers backed off and used a second means of submission and Robinson was then placed into handcuffs without incident.Robinson was arraigned in the Town of New Hartford Court on two charges of Petit Larceny, Class A Misdemeanors, one count of Falsifying Business Documents, a Class E Felony and one count of Resisting Arrest, a Class A Misdemeanor.Robinson was released after posting bail and she will return to the Town of New Hartford Court at a later date.

Capitol Hill Page Arrested www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-15T16:09:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON DC DEC 15, 2007 -- A Capitol Hill page who was kicked out of the program was caught stealing items from a Macy's store and had to be bailed out by the clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, police sources said.
Congressional leaders are asking the inspector general for an investigation after five pages recently were kicked out of the program for fighting, shoplifting and sexual misconduct in the page dorms.
Sources said one page was caught shoplifting on the evening of Nov. 2 at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City in Arlington.

Sources said Macy's store security caught the page stuffing items of clothing into a backpack and a carry bag. The 16-year-old was arrested as he left the store.
The stolen items included Levi's jeans, Polo T-shirts, a dress shirt, Polo socks and designer T-shirts, sources said.
The items came to a total value of $341.50, a case of grand larceny.
The page was turned over to Arlington police and later released into the custody of Lorraine Miller, the clerk of the House.
Sources said there was another shoplifting incident involving a Capitol page at Union Station.
There are about 70 Capitol pages, who are generally about 16 years old. They go to school in the morning, and in the afternoon, they run errands for congressmen. They come from all over the United States and live in a dormitory about five blocks south of the Capitol.
According to congressional sources, five pages have been kicked out of the program: one for fighting, two for shoplifting at Pentagon City Mall and two who are accused of performing a sex act in an elevator in front of other pages.
U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Fla., said public sex acts had been going on for months. She and U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito have resigned from the page board because of the problems. They said they were not informed about these incidents in a timely fashion.
There are no Republicans left on the eight-member board.

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Georgia shoplifters captured; wanted for multiple robberies www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-07T13:56:00.000-08:00

VILLA RICA, Ga. Dec. 7, 2007 -- Police in the Carroll County city of Villa Rica say they've arrested a pair who might be one of the metro area's most prolific shoplifters ever.
The two allegedly stole from Wal-Marts and Sam’s Club stores from across north Georgia for the past year-and-a-half. Authorities say their crime spree likely cost everyone who shops at those stores.
When Roderick Jefferson and Malcolm LaFrance Smith strolled into the Villa Rica Wal-Mart, store security watching on camera immediately knew who they were.
“It was to the point that they were, the Wal-Mart people, the security people there were familiar enough with them that when they walked in the door and they saw them on the surveillance camera they knew exactly who they were and their quick response got these people caught,” said Capt. Brian Camp with the Villa Rica Police Department.
Jefferson and Smith allegedly had a long-running routine going and they had been pilfering from Wal-Marts and Sam’s Clubs across North Georgia for a year and a half.
In November, they came into the 24-hour store during the night. They loaded up some flat screen TV’s then, using a screwdriver, broke into a vacant stockroom and stole printers, camcorders and laptop computers. They filled up their getaway vehicle in the shadows of the loading bay, according to investigators.
“Anything high dollar. They'd get two buggys and fill up anything they could get in it and get out as quick as they can,” said Camp.
Notified by Wal-Mart Wednesday night, Villa Rica police nabbed the pair moments after they came into the store.
Wal-Mart officials told police the pair has hit dozens of stores in nearly every metro county, stealing more than $103,000 in electronics.
And most shoppers know thievery makes holiday shopping more expensive for everyone. “A lot because it make the prices go up and it’s scary.”
Jefferson and Smith are in jail charged with felony theft by shoplifting charges. Officials said the pair are facing pending charges in many other counties as well.
Villa Rica police say they do not know where all the stolen merchandise is.

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Employee arrested in theft scheme www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-07T13:40:00.000-08:00

Henderson KY. Dec. 7, 2007 Wal-mart loss prevention found that a juvenile employee was allowing subjects to go through the line without paying for items.
Through the investigation police say that two adults and five juveniles including the employee were passing merchandise through the juveniles line without the items being paid for. With video surveillance police estimate $1900 worth of merchandise passed through the employees line.
The juveniles have been charged with six Class D felonies and four Class A misdemeanors. Siobahn Nelson and Courtney Turner were both arrested on Class D felonies.

Shoplifter snags jeans then he gets snagged www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-07T13:28:00.000-08:00

Mesa AZ. Dec 7, 2007

A convicted Southeast Valley shoplifter is suspected of trying to steal 12 pairs of jeans from a Tempe Mervyn's store Monday.Tempe police arrested a man Monday after they said he shoplifted 12 pairs of jeans from a Mervyn's store.Michael Gillie, 43, entered the Mervyn's at Southern Avenue and Rural Road at around 11:50 a.m. Monday, according to Tempe police. He took 12 pairs of blue jeans worth $523, concealed them in a plastic bag and then walked out without paying for them, police said.He was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting. He has prior shoplifting convictions from Tempe, Chandler and Mesa.

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Mall parking deck collapes, 1 dead, 21 injured www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-07T13:26:00.001-08:00

CHARLOTTE, N.C. DEc. 6, 2007 — A portion of parking deck at a busy shopping mall collapsed Thursday, and a motorist who may have triggered the accident by crashing into the structure died, police said.The woman's car crashed into the edge of the top level of the parking deck at SouthPark Mall, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police spokeswoman Julie Hill said.A small portion of the three-tier deck then collapsed, and the driver's car fell through the opening, Hill said.The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, said Mecklenburg EMS Agency spokesman Eric Morrison.Two cars under the collapsed concrete were destroyed, Charlotte Fire Department Capt. Rob Brisley said, but authorities said there were no other injuries."I think it's miraculous, quite honest," Hill said.Officials are investigating the cause.Lorraine Ayala, 63, of Monroe, said she left the mall to find the parking deck collapsed just above her ground-level parking space."It makes you question the structure of these buildings," Ayala said.Meanwhile, a parking garage under construction in Jacksonville, Fla., partially collapsed Thursday, injuring about two dozen people, officials said.One person was missing, but police did not know whether the worker was trapped or had escaped. Crews with dogs were looking through the rubble.Misty Skipper, a spokeswoman for Mayor John Peyton, said that early searches had turned up nothing, but that they would continue until searchers were certain that nobody was trapped.At least 21 people were taken to hospitals, which reported three in fair condition, two in good condition and the rest stable or released.The collapse occurred as workers were pouring concrete on the sixth floor of the garage for a condominium complex across the street from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office."I heard a crack, and then it just crumbled," Rick Caldwell, a construction worker, told The Florida Times-Union.The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating.

College students protest security officer wages by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-07T13:21:00.000-08:00

Washington D.C. Dec. 7, 2007 Members of the Progressive Student Union launched a letter-writing campaign urging the University to adopt a code of conduct that lays out the minimum requirement for pay by contractors in its buildings.The group said Securitas, a private security firm in 2000 Penn, pays a starting wage of $8.75 per hour. GW owns the building."We are prepared to take this as far as it goes. Through our protest we want to show people the horrors of being employed either directly or indirectly for GW," said Matthew Brokman, president of the Progressive Student Union.This fall, members wrote 15 letters to Executive Vice President and Treasurer Lou Katz. In a November letter, PSU asked that GW "exert its power as contractor and require that Securitas reform, or risk losing its contract with the University."PSU members said the University is condoning the company's failure to pay the guards $11.75 an hour, a "living wage" as defined by D.C. Department of Employment Services. The District's minimum wage is $7 per hour.A management company, not GW, handles the security for these buildings.each month," one security guard said. He asked to to remain anonymous for fear of possible retribution from his company.In some of his letters, Katz assured the PSU that GW intends to provide for the basic standard of living for all its employees, but in his Oct. 23 letter, Katz wrote that GW has no grounds to criticize Securitas."The University has not dictated a specific wage floor to be paid by companies with whom it contracts for off-site services and, as a matter of principle, (the University) does not interfere with wage determinations made by independent companies and their workers," Katz wrote.Student activists said they are disappointed with the administration's response."Anyone can see that these people are getting paid poverty wages so I was surprised by Mr. Katz's nonchalant response and lack of concern for such a serious matter. It was like he didn't want to step on anyone's toes," said freshman Steve Muse, a member of the PSU.Formed in the early 1980s, PSU was the student voice behind the pay discrepancies and harassment of workers at J Street in the late 1990s. In 2004, 11 of its members were arrested at Marvin Center while protesting GW's indirect use of sweatshops.Last week, some Securitas security guards received a $1.25 per hour pay increase after pressure from a D.C. security guard union, according to a security guard."It makes day-to-day life easier," the guard said.Despite the pay increase, PSU plans to move ahead in their protest and partner with other student organizations whose main focus is social justice, such as Students for Fair Trade."Depending on Mr. Katz' response, we will be escalating the campaigns, looking at a protest, sit-ins, hunger strikes and other types of movements," Brokman said. "Our campaign is not just about individual security guards; it's about changing the way GW does business.""We will continue our actions until the University says,you are right. We will not allow human rights violations to be happening on our properties," he continued.Securitas employs 230,000 people and is the largest private security provider company in the world. They are one of four security guard companies with whom GW contracts for use in its commercial real estate buildings.Federal security guards are paid $14 per hour. At GW, the salary for a receptionist at the Lerner Health and Wellness Center is $7.50 per hour. Work-study students employed at Gelman Library are paid $10 an hour.

Armed jewelry store robber captured quickly by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-07T13:19:00.000-08:00

Armed jewelry store robber captured quickly by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com

Dallas Tx. Dec. 7 2007 Dallas police detectives Wednesday night arrested a 20-year-old man who they say disarmed a security guard and made off with more than $200,000 in merchandise from a Zales outlet store Tuesday afternoon.
Police said Evan Charles Lewis was caught with a large quantity of jewelry from the store. No one was hurt in the robbery about 2 p.m. at the store at 8701 John West Carpenter Freeway, police said.The gunman threatened to shoot employees as they loaded his beige duffel bag with dozens of diamond rings and other jewelry.
No one was injured in the robbery about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the store in the 8700 block of John West Carpenter Freeway, police said. The gunman threatened to shoot store employees after he disarmed the store security guard who had been surprised by the robber.Dallas police described the gunman as about 6 feet tall, weighing about 180 pounds and in his 20s. The man was wearing a white dress shirt and black stonewashed jeans and had put out a citywide look pot bulletin for the suspect saying that he was considered armed and dangerous.
Good police work from several uniform officers and detectives resulted in a quick capture of the alledged robber.
Police are not sure if there were others involved and are still investigating.
Anyone with information was asked to call police at 214-671-3584

Seafood thief charged with robbery www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-07T13:17:00.000-08:00

Seafood thief charged with robbery www.privateofficer.com

Watertown NY. Dec. 7, 2007 Sometimes you just gotta hvae what you want or so one man thought when he decided to steal some crab legs.The accused had an apparent taste for seafood which landed a Watertown man in jail Sunday. Dominic A. Rima, 27, of 528 LeRay Street was charged with Robbery 3rd Degree when he was arrested at the P & C supermarket in Stateway Plaza. He was also charged with Issuing a Bad Check for an incident at 402 Mill Street on September 12th. According to WPD, Rima allegedly tried to steal $108.23 worth of Alaskan King Crab Legs. When he attempted to leave the store Rima hit and struggled with a security guard.
The security officer was able to detain Rima while other employees called police and the crab leg theft was unsuccessful for him. He was transported to the city jail where no seafood feast was waiting.
Rima was held for arraignment this morning in Watertown City Court.

NO BREAKS FOR SANTA EITHER! www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-07T13:15:00.000-08:00

NO BREAKS FOR SANTA EITHER! www.privateofficer.com

It seems that Santa, the jolly old man himself was recently stopped by a hardworking, underpaid, overstuffed with donuts cop for speeding.
Now, cops, just like Santa, have their own naughty or nice list (aka, NCIC) and as all good cops do, this officer checked his list twice and low and behold Santa's name was there on the naughty list!
Not wanting to cause a stir just a few short weeks before Christmas, the officer called his supervisor to ask what he should do and could he cut Santa a break, kind of a good will jester, if you know what I mean. But his supervisor, a young, still wet behind the ears rookie sargeant said no way, no how, no can do. Don't give that old fat man any breaks! (his stocking must have frequently had coal in it)
So, Santa was frisked cuffed and stuffed and hauled away for driving without a license, speeding, failure to license his sleigh, unregistered reindeer, and failure to show up in court on his previous run ins with the men in blue!
Last time we checked, he was still a guest at the greybar motel unable to make bail since his wife doesn't drive and the elves are too small to reach the sleigh pedals.
So if this year you find nothing under the tree, you'll know that Santa is still being held hostage by the police!

Man guilty of attempted murder of guard www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-07T13:13:00.000-08:00

guilty of murder attempt
Man guilty of attempted murder of guard www.privateofficer.com

Kansas City,KS Dec 6 2007
He ran over a security guard during a robbery nearly killing him. Now, Nathan Simpson faces more than 25 years in prison.Simpson was in court Wednesday afternoon for his sentencing hearing. The man he ran over, Earnest Crain, was also in the courtroom.Simpson was high on meth at a south Wichita Dillons last January when he tried to steal a woman's purse and car-jack another woman.Crain worked at Dillons as a security guard and was run over when he tried to stop Simpson. Simpson ran over his chest, and Crain was in critical condition for nearly three months.Since then, Crain has had a hip replacement and is permanently on oxygen. Still, he says he forgives the man who nearly killed him."God says you've got to forgive people," says Crain. "There's no sense holding a grudge. It's not going to do him any good. It's not going to do me any good. I do forgive him. I don't condone what he did. There are consequences for what he did."Simpson was facing a total of seven charges, and he pleaded guilty in late July. The judge could have given him a maximum sentence of more than 32 years in jail.

Georgia man dies when 3 yr old fires gun www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-07T13:10:00.000-08:00

BRUNSWICK, Ga. Dec. 6 2007-- A 22-year-old man died after he was shot in the head in a Brunswick home Tuesday night, and police said the shot was fired when a 3-year-old picked up a gun.According to the Brunswick Police Department, Curtis Gabriel Collins was shot about 8:30 p.m. in the 2400 block of Stonewall Street. He was rushed to a hospital, where doctors said he could not be revived.Investigators said Collins was shot when a 35-month-old child grabbed a loaded gun on a table. The gun went off, hitting Collins as he sat on a nearby sofa.The relationship between Collins and the child was not released.The case -- the 16th homicide of 2007 in Brunswick -- remains under investigation.

Teenagers go on crime spree www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-07T13:08:00.000-08:00

Mobile Ala. Dec. 6, 2007
A 16-year-old on a five-day armed robbery spree through Mobile and his one-time accomplice were caught Monday with loot from their latest holdup, police said Tuesday.The take include at least 20 one-dollar bills.Less than 15 minutes after the money was taken from a Subway restaurant in Toulminville, an officer spotted the two suspects driving in the reported getaway car, said police spokeswoman Nancy JohnsonOfficers pulled over the red Chevrolet Cavalier, Johnson said.Robbery detectives came to the scene and interviewed the teenagers, connecting the younger one to nine holdups between Nov. 29 and Monday, Johnson said.Police information Monday night indicated that one way that detectives linked the men to the Subway robbery was the fact that they found 20 one-dollar bills in the car. Johnson said the police department does not release the amount of money taken in robberies but that this robbery involved a small sum.In addition to the Subway, the 16-year-old is accused of robbing six gas stations, a cash advance store and a Chinese restaurant, she said. The stores in question were spread throughout the city, including northeast Mobile, downtown and west of Interstate 65.A semiautomatic handgun and a stainless steel revolver were used in some of the robberies, Johnson said. Video surveillance shows the 16-year-old with a shirt wrapped around his face at one of the businesses, she said.Johnson declined to release the 16-year-old's name, citing his age.However, online jail records identified him as Vincent Paul Figaro of Mobile.The alleged one-time accomplice, 19-year-old Jeffery Knight of Mobile, was charged with one count of first-degree robbery in connection with the Subway holdup, Johnson said.Both men are being held at Mobile County Metro Jail and are awaiting bail hearings set for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, according to the jail log.The 16-year-old's mother, Suzanne Figaro, said she was disappointed with her son and had no plans to post bond for his release from jailYou try to raise them right," said Figaro, standing in the driveway of her Leinkauf-area home. "You think you teach him everything you can."Suzanne Figaro said Tuesday that she did not know her son was arrested until television news reporters informed her earlier in the day. She said that the last time she saw him was before she went to bed Monday night, shortly before he was arrested.Dressed in a conservative suit and wearing a cross necklace, the mother said she had wanted her son to enroll at Bishop State Community College. He could start college, she said, because he had completed his GED.Instead, he chose another way to get by, she said."I guess this is what he wants," she said.Her son is connected to nine robberies, but the jail records show that so far he is only charged with six counts of first-degree robbery, Johnson said.It's unlikely that prosecutors would levy charges against the 16-year-old in all nine cases, Johnson said

These are the nine robberies:Shell Food Mart, 1373 Navco Road, at 11:50 p.m.

Nov. 29.Circle K, 6900 Airport Blvd., at 12:51 p.m.

Nov. 30.Cash Tyme, 2029 Airport, at 12:58 p.m. Saturday.

Circle K, 3026 Cottage Hill Road, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Circle K, 854 Downtowner Blvd., at 9:25 p.m. Saturday.

China House, 966 Government St., at 11:15 p.m. Saturday.

Chevron, 1167 S. Broad St., at 5:40 a.m.

Sunday.Shell, 1391 S. Schillinger Road, at 5:55 a.m. Monday.

Subway, 512 S. Wilson Ave., at 10 p.m. Monday.

Mall security tackles kidnapper www.privateofficer.com

2007-12-07T13:05:00.000-08:00

WEST DUNDEE IL. Dec. 7, 2007 -- Security officers tackled a man who grabbed a 4-year-old from among a group of children visiting Spring Hill Mall on Thursday morning, police said.Arthur Robinzine, 19, of 818 S. Wolcott Ave., Chicago, has been charged with unlawful restraint, aggravated battery in a public place and resisting arrest after he grabbed a 4-year-old at about 9:15 a.m. Thursday in Spring Hill Mall, according to police.The child was walking with his class from Elgin's Two Rivers Head Start near the mall's food court when Robinzine stood up from a bench and began following the group, West Dundee Police Chief Dave Sawyer said.As soon as Robinzine picked up the victim, he was tackled to the ground by mall security and school staff, Sawyer said. The child wasn't injured, Sawyer said."The whole situation was handled in a matter of seconds by school staff and mall personnel," Sawyer said.Robinzine is not cooperating with police and it is unclear why he was at the mall before the stores opened, Sawyer said.He is undergoing a medical examination at Sherman Hospital and is expected to spend the night in police custody, Sawyer said. His bail will be determined Friday morning during his bond hearing, Sawyer said.

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