FENCING OPERATION: Lorain County, OH business owners arrested, charged with received stolen property  A simultaneous execution of search warrants at two Lorain businesses June 3, netted the arrests of two store owners and caused what police say is a hopeful ripple in a systemic burglary and drug epidemic plaguing the area. At 1:30 p.m., the Lorain Police Department's property crimes division and the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) Investigative Unit's Cleveland division served warrants at 611 Market, 1550 Colorado Ave., and Rudy's 2 Market, 523 W. 23rd St. During their investigation, the 2 Store Owners were taken into custody and charged with misdemeanor receiving stolen property. Additional charges may follow pending the completion of the investigation, said Lorain property crimes Detective Jacob Morris. Morris said items seized from both locations must be inventoried, determined if they are stolen goods and then given a valuation. Once complete, charges against both men could be adjusted, he said. During their "months-long" investigation into the stores' activities, police allege the men were purchasing stolen items from customers, and in turn re-selling them in their establishments. Officers from both agencies were seen bagging evidence, including large quantities of power tools, lawn and gardening equipment, gaming systems, phones, bicycles, cash and an alleged substance Morris believes is "spice" - a synthetic form of cannabis - which he said will be sent for laboratory testing. morningjournal.com

2 charged with embezzling $50,000 of merchandise from AAFES in Newport News  Two employees of an Army and Air Force Exchange Services company in Newport News were charged with stealing from the exchange for almost a year. According to their arrest warrants, 23-year-old Cazzion McCarthy and 37-year-old Kelvin Cowan stole more than $50,000 worth of property from the AAFES Dan Daniel Distribution Center. "We expect all associates to be mindful of the exchange mission," said Judd Anstey, senior public relations manager for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service. Police said, this past February they were called to the distribution center for a report of missing merchandise. Investigators said the missing tablet-style computers were stolen between July 2014 and February 2015. Both Cazzion and Cowan were charged with one count of embezzlement. Officials said both men had been working at the distribution center for three years, but no longer work there. wavy.com

Winn Dixie Employee in Tallahassee, FL Accused of Stealing $37,000 in Steak & Seafood  A Tallahassee man is accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of steaks and seafood. Arrest papers say the former Winn Dixie employee devised a scheme to transfer the items among stores in Leon, Gadsden and Wakulla Counties. James Hollar, who court papers say is a former market manager for Winn Dixie is now accused of stealing more than $37,000 dollars worth of steak and seafood in less than a month. James Hollar is facing felony charges of grand theft and fraud stemming from incidents in September and October 2014. Tallahassee Police reports say they have store surveillance video of Hollar picking up meat from Winn Dixie stores on Tharpe Street, South Magnolia, North Monroe Street and Paul Russell Road. wctv.tv

CA Man sentenced in Portland, Maine to 13 months for fake credit, gift card scheme; $18,000 in restitution  California man was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court to 13 months in federal prison for his role in a scheme to use nearly 40 fake or altered credit, debit and gift cards to buy merchandise in southern Maine in 2013 and 2014. In addition to prison time, Jervis A. Hillaire, 26, of Menifee, California, was sentenced to three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Hillaire also was ordered to pay nearly $18,000 in restitution. bangordailynews.com

Sears in Barboursville, WV busts 2 Repeat Offenders stealing Power tools
Jamie Berea Johnson, 37, and Denny Dorsey Roberts Jr., 55, both of Huntington, were arrested for third offense shoplifting May 27 after two men were caught stealing a Craftsman drill from Sears, worth $140. The two removed the drill from the packaging in a fitting room and attempted to leave. They were stopped by loss prevention officers. Johnson was found to be on probation for felony third offense shoplifting. herald-dispatch.com