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.
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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