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 Chesterfield
Co, VA: 'We can't arrest our way out of it' -
Chesterfield Police teams with Retail Loss Prevention to explore new ways to
combat heroin epidemic
In just the first two months of this year, Chesterfield County has seen an 183%
increase in heroin overdoses and fatalities over the same time period last year,
according to Chesterfield Substance Abuse Free Environment (SAFE). In addition
to SAFE, police have teamed up with retailers to help identify repeat
shoplifters that are suspected of being heroin addicts. "Things start to go
sideways and they start committing crime to support their habit," said Major
Chris Hensley with Chesterfield County Police. Hensley says police and loss
prevention personnel will start handing out cards to suspected shoplifters and
addicts before they are arrested or commit a crime. On the cards, the names and
numbers of places around the area that can help with addiction. Police say it's
an effort to stop petty criminals from overdosing or moving on to more serious
and violent crimes like armed robbery.
wric.com
 Wythe
County, VA: Man charged with stealing goods to sell on eBay; $50,000 to $70,000
in merchandise stolen
On March 9, the Wythe County Sheriff's Office arrested 30-year-old Aaron Brandon
Wright after an investigation that started last year into the theft of thousands
of dollars worth of items from Wytheville stores, including Walmart. Police
believe that Wright was selling the goods ranging from shoes to speakers on
eBay. Walmart associates notified Police last April that someone was shoplifting
items from the store and that the person had an "alpha" key used to unlock
more-expensive merchandise. Police said Wright, who came into the store with a
small child, would take the items into a family bathroom where he apparently
concealed them in a diaper bag. Police went to Wright's residence on March 9 and
seized hundreds of items including infant formula, game cameras, iPhone cases, a
pet trimmer, headphones, jewelry, dog leashes and DVDs. On Wednesday, 62 similar
items were still listed for sell under the eBay account named in the warrant.
Started in 2013, the account had 100 percent positive feedback. Investigator
states 50-70k in merchandise has been stolen by Mr. Wright. In 2013, Wright was
convicted of three felony shoplifting charges in Montgomery County Circuit
Court.
swvatoday.com
Mobile, AL: Cell Phone thieves hit Walmart
for over $13,000 in merchandise
Police need your help tracking down some alleged thieves caught on surveillance
cameras. The accompanying video comes from a Walmart store in Mobile. Police say
the three people seen in the video went behind a counter and stole numerous cell
phones. They just grabbed the phones and took off. Pictures show the alleged
thieves as they came inside the store. Investigators say the total value of the
cell phones is around $13,000.
fox10tv.com
Mankato, MN: ORC thief busted in spree of electronics thefts; had a "magic key"
An Iowa man is facing three charges in connection with a shoplifting incident at
Shopko. Dustin Lucas Nesje, 22, was charged Tuesday with felony possession of
shoplifting gear, felony possession of burglary or theft tools and misdemeanor
theft. Officers responded to the Mankato Shopko for a shoplifting report at 3:23
p.m. Monday. A loss prevention employee told officers he recognized Nesje and
another man as people involved in a "string of organized retail thefts" at
Shopko in recent weeks. .Nesje admitted to the employee he had a magnetic key to
open a videogame case, a tool he said he stole from a retailer in Rochester. He
also said he'd been going to the Shopko with others and stealing.
mankatofreepress.com
 Mount
Juliet, TN: Over $800 in flip-flops stolen from Old Navy
It all started when officers were called to the South Mt. Juliet Road business
just after 5 p.m. for a shoplifting in progress. Mt. Juliet police say as
officers were on their way, the suspects ran from the store and got into a
Nissan Altima. A detailed description of the car was provided to police, who
spotted and stopped the suspects. During a traffic stop, authorities reportedly
found the $800 in flip-flops inside the car, which were returned to Old Navy.
Two women, 28-year-old Tena Allen and 26-year-old Towonda Parrish, were taken
into custody.
wkrn.com
Coldwater, MI: Police investigation leads to arrest in large ORC theft from
Gander Mountain
One of two suspects charged in connection with the theft of a large amount of
items from the Coldwater Gander Mountain Store is free after posting ten percent
of a $25,000 bond on Tuesday. 21-year-old Kayla Kristine Wagoner is facing five
year felony counts for Retail Fraud, Organized Retail Crime and Conspiracy to
Commit Organized Retail Crime. According to Branch County court documents, the
alleged crimes in January involved the taking of items from the store for
possible reselling either through the mail or by electronic media. Wagoner was
arrested following a Coldwater Police Department investigation. A co-defendant,
28-year-old Paul William Goetz-Hoke of Coldwater, was booked at the Branch
County Jail in late January.
wincountry.com
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