Store clerk charged in theft of $1 million lottery ticket
Prosecutors say a New Jersey convenience store employee has been charged with theft of a million-dollar winning lottery ticket from its rightful owner. Thirty-six-year-old Rayhan Sorwar of Edison was charged Friday with second-degree theft, conspiracy and attempted money laundering. The Middlesex County prosecutor’s office says a customer presented a winning scratch-off lottery ticket in September at an Edison convenience store. Prosecutors allege that Sorwar took the ticket but instead of a claim form gave her two other tickets, calling those her winnings. Police say an attempt to cash the winning ticket at the lottery commission in Lawrenceville prompted an investigation. Officials said the rightful owner has been paid her winnings. A listed number for Sorwar couldn’t be found Friday and prosecutors said it was unclear whether he had an attorney. [Source: NorthJersey News]
“Concerned citizen” fires gun at suspected shoplifters in store’s parking lot
In Tennessee, a local man with a valid handgun carry permit fired his gun at three people he believed were shoplifters after he watched them taking merchandise and leaving Walmart on West Market Street Friday morning, a Johnson City Police supervisor said. Capt. Brian Rice said 911 received at least three calls about a shot or shots being fired in the store parking lot around 8 a.m. When police arrived, they spoke to a man, whose name was not released, about his involvement. “A citizen observed some people shoplifting items in the store,” Rice said. “He confronted them in the parking lot and one person pulled a weapon on him. The citizen, who has a valid handgun carry permit, fearing for his safety, pulled his weapon and fired one shot.” No charges had been placed against the shooter. [Source: Johnson City Press]
Theft suspects pepper sprayed store LP associate
West Whiteland Township Police said two men pepper sprayed a store employee after they allegedly stole a large amount of clothing earlier this week. The incident occurred on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at Macy’s in the Exton Square Mall, police said. The two men allegedly stole clothes from the store, police said. When a Macy’s loss prevention officer confronted the suspects, the men assaulted the officer with pepper spray, police said. The suspects then fled in what was described as a blue Kia Optima with Pennsylvania registration plates, according to police. Anyone with information on the crime or who knows the suspects’ identities is urged to contact West Whiteland Police detectives McCloskey or Pezick by email at jmccloskey@westwhiteland.org or spezick@westwhiteland.org, respectively. You can also report tips by calling (610) 363-0200. [Source: Malvern Patch]
Employee, wife charged for stealing and using gift cards
A Hanover, Pennsylvania, man who was an employee at Walmart was charged on Jan. 2, along with his wife, for allegedly stealing gift cards and using them to make purchases. Tyler Jordan Jarvis, 20, and Courtney Mae Jarvis, 21, both made purchases using the gift cards, which ended up being a total of $5,100, according to an affidavit filed with District Judge Dwyane Dubs. Police were dispatched for a employee theft report at Walmart. The loss prevention associate told police Tyler Jarvis had filled Walmart gift cards with a total of $5,100 in cash value without paying for them, the affidavit states. When Tyler Jarvis was working, he used promotional codes to fill the gift cards on Nov. 23, 24 and 25. The promotional code was for iPhones and would give the customer a $300 Walmart gift card, police said in the affidavit. The loss prevention associate told police that Tyler Jarvis used the gift cards to make purchases, totaling about $1,700, at Walmart from Nov. 23 through Dec. 6. Tyler Jarvis provided the loss prevention officer with a written statement saying he did load the cards and that he knew it was wrong, the affidavit states. The loss prevention associate also told police that Tyler Jarvis gave Courtney Jarvis a gift card that she used at Walmart, and she was present when the gift cards were being used.
Courtney Jarvis told police that Tyler Jarvis had given her a Walmart gift card and he had told her it was from his mother. She said she found out the gift cards were stolen when she was with Tyler Jarvis for a purchase of about $1,100, police said in the affidavit. She also told police that she still used the gift card after knowing it was stolen. Courtney Jarvis made purchases with the gift cards that totaled about $1,300. Tyler Jarvis told police that he loaded the cards and spent them, police said in the affidavit. The money left on the gift cards was given back to Walmart. Tyler Jarvis was charged with forgery, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and tampering with records, according to online court documents. Courtney Jarvis was charged with theft by deception and receiving stolen property. Both were released on their own recognizance and have preliminary hearings scheduled for Feb. 13, documents state. [Source: The Evening Sun]
Shoplifting suspect pulled stun gun on LP associate
Two people tried to shoplift several items from an Oak Park Target in San Diego, California, and use a stun gun on a loss prevention associate in the process, police said. A man and woman entered the Target at 3424 College Avenue shortly before 5:30 p.m. Friday and shoplifted several items, according to San Diego Police. Officer said as the pair left the store they were confronted by the loss prevention employee. The female suspect pulled out a stun gun, turned it on, and tried to shock the employee. The woman missed though and both suspects fled. The pair is described as a Hispanic man last seen wearing a baseball cap and black shirt and a Hispanic female in her 20s last seen wearing a pink beanie and pink sweater. Anyone with information is asked to call San Diego Police at 619-531-2000. [Source: ABC10 News]
Ringleader of credit card fraud scheme sentenced to 9 years
The ringleader of a Virginia credit card fraud and identity theft scheme was sentenced to 9 years in prison on Friday. Court documents say that Travon Williams, 33, organized and led a conspiracy of 2 and a half years where members purchased thousands of stolen credit and debit cards, encoded stolen numbers onto the cards, and then used them to buy gift cards, cartons of cigarettes, and other merchandise. The group made hundreds of thousands of dollars selling cigarettes to New York City buyers. Williams made $415,000 himself. The 11 other defendants also pleaded guilty. Some have been sentenced, while others are still awaiting sentencing. [Source: WUSA*9]