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 San
Antonio, TX: SAPD links pair of thieves to $100k theft ring; Colette Smith,
Derek Schrimpsher charged with engaging in organized crime
San Antonio police and Bexar County deputies knew a gang of thieves had been
making the rounds at big box stores. They didn't know the suspect responsible
for organizing the crimes would make their job easier. "We actually discovered
that a list had been generated by the fence and the thieves would actually go
out to certain retail stores and location and try to get the property that was
on that list," said SAPD Sgt. Val Garica. he list was found in a notebook that
police said was kept by the "fence," which is a person who sells the stolen
property. It included the names of two people arrested Wednesday: Colette Smith,
55, and Derek Schrimpsher, 25. Police said electronics -- including a security
system, speakers, headphones and other gadgets -- were stolen, as were dozens of
gift cards. "We seized approximately $5,000 worth of property, approximately
$50,000 in cash and an undetermined amount in gift cards, we're thinking maybe
another $50-$60,000 (in value)," said Garcia.
ksat.com
Newport News, VA: Man pleads guilty to laundering money from jewelry heists; $5M
in 6 states
A 44-year-old man pleaded guilty in Newport News federal court Wednesday to
charges related to laundering the proceeds of a sophisticated jewelry theft
ring, officials said. Slavik Hayimov, aka Steve Hayimov, of Queens, New York,
admitted to conspiring with a Richmond-based jewelry theft ring. The theft ring
ultimately stole more than $5 million in jewelry from victims in Virginia and at
least six other states. The thieves regularly watched jewelry stores and
identified vulnerable people who they followed home or to hotels. In most cases,
several men suddenly appeared when the victims approached or entered their
vehicles. The robbers would then punch out car windows and threaten the victims
at knife-point before stealing the merchandise. The robbers then traveled to New
York and sold the merchandise to Hayimov, court documents state. Knowing the
merchandise was stolen, Hayimov paid far less than fair market value for the
jewelry. He paid in cash and by making anonymous bank deposits to conceal the
activities.
dailypress.com
 'Professional'
theft crew steals $50,000 in jewelry from upscale consignment shop
Lake Oswego police are asking for the public's help in solving a slickly
choreographed theft at an upscale consignment shop Sunday that netted more than
$50,000 in jewelry. No one was hurt in the incident. "It appears that this theft
was committed by a professional crew of suspects that have likely committed
similar thefts in other areas," said Sgt. Tom Hamann, Lake Oswego Police
Department spokesman. Hamann said two women and a man entered the New to You &
Simply Posh store before 3 p.m. While store clerks were occupied, one of the
first three "customers" signaled the man who came in alone later. That man then
used a tool to lift the glass top of a display case, took 40 pieces of jewelry
and put them in a bag before leaving the store.
oregonlive.com
 Hurst,
TX: Police break up suspected retail theft ring targeting area malls
A sharp-eyed patrol officer helped authorities break up what they described as a
large retail theft ring that traveled across the U.S. targeting merchants and
stealing large amounts of property. Alerted by bulletins about a group of people
stealing from area malls, patrol officer Ryan Tooker spotted one of the suspects
last week at North East Mall. Tooker told mall security officers, who watched
the suspect and later got vehicle information. After the vehicle left the mall
parking lot, 1100 Melbourne Road, patrol officers stopped it on a traffic
violation and found stolen merchandise from the mall. Arrested at the scene were
Maria Alvarez, 30; Luis Perera, 21; Osmany Martinez, 26; and Antony Ferreyra,
29, all of Florida. The four are expected to be charged with organized retail
theft of $2,500 to $30,000, police said Wednesday. Police recovered $4,489.19 in
merchandise from the vehicle. The items were returned to Hollister Co. and
Victoria's Secret.
star-telegram.com
Portland, OR: Boosters, Fences: Inside organized retail theft; Police & crime
alliance investigate
Industrywide, retailers big and small are facing staggering losses because of
organized retail crime. In the Pacific Northwest, private retailers and police
have formed an organization called the Northwest Organized Retail Crime Alliance
(NWORCA). The group will cross competitive boundaries and will share information
and intelligence on suspected criminals and criminal activity, according to Fred
Meyer spokesperson Melinda Merrill.
koin.com
 Fort
Wayne, IN: 2 charged in stealing, selling household items from Meijers
Vacuum cleaners and air conditioners, sump pumps and chain saws were some of the
items two people are charged with taking from three Allen County Meijer
locations between January and July. Jonathan Norris Lane, 36, and Rosealyn Marie
Reeves, 36, both of Fort Wayne, are accused of swiping household appliances and
home and garden equipment and selling them for profit. Both have been charged
with racketeering and corrupt business influence in Allen County Superior Court.
A Meijer Inc. loss-prevention officer identified the pair on in-store cameras
that showed them leaving with unpaid merchandise. The jig was up when a purchase
ticket at Lev's Pawn Shop No.12 matched the serial number on a vacuum, which was
sold from the shop for $125 on June 15. The vacuum had been stolen from the
Maysville Road Meijer, the court report stated. The transaction identified Lane
and Reeves through Indiana ID cards as the sellers. The two have an extensive
sales history with Lev's since 2012, discovered through LeadsOnline, including
the vacuum and a window air conditioner this year. Meijer indicated that Lane
and Reeves were the main suspects in the disappearance of 36 Bissell vacuum
cleaners, six Dyson vacuum cleaners, five air conditioners, five sump pumps,
four chain saws, two weed trimmers, three Hoover vacuum cleaners and a 45-pint
dehumidifier.
journalgazette.com
 Corpus
Christi, TX: Four women are arrested after they tried the "five-finger discount"
with over two-thousand dollars of stuff from a local department store
Police were called to the JC Penney store at La Palmera Mall Tuesday night after
employees of the store saw four women go through the store, then split into two
teams, each one putting items into their purses and try to walk out with paying.
Loss prevention officers were able to stop them and police arrested 22-year-old
Guadalupe Nino, 21-year-old Jessica Elizondo, 19-year-old Stephanie Lopez-Garza
and 23-year-old Lyanne Bazan. All four are now charged with theft.
kz10.com
Warwick, RI: WPD Seeks Serial CVS Shoplifter
Warwick Police are seeking the public's help identifying a woman involved in
several shoplifting thefts from the CVS on Warwick Avenue, most recently in
September. On Thursday, Sept. 3, at about 8:30 p.m., the woman entered CVS with
two large purses and selected several beauty products (soap, body wash, and
lotion), concealing them in the purses. On Friday, Sept. 4 at about 5:25 a.m.,
the woman returned to the store, stealing the same sorts of products in the same
manner, according to police.
warwickpost.com
 Vancouver,
CN: Another brazen theft at the Drone store -
same store for the 4th time
For the fourth time in the past few months, thieves have targeted a drone store
in Vancouver, using increasingly devious methods. Overnight, the suspect, or
suspects, broke through the drywall of the vacant business next door to Drones
Plus. They made it directly into the store's back room and stole two drones
worth $4,000 each. Last month, would-be thieves attempted to break in by backing
vehicles into the store, but were unable to create an opening in the doors.
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