Costume theft can’t stop “The Nutcracker”
A Rhode Island ballet company says its annual production of “The Nutcracker” will go on as scheduled despite the theft of the title character’s mask and costume, the Sugar Plum Fairy’s tutu and other costumes. The Festival Ballet Providence’s costumes were discovered missing from a Pawtucket warehouse last week.
Artistic Director Mihailo Djuric (muh-HY’-low JUHR’-itch) says while “a significant blow,” the theft has made the dancers determined to make this year’s performance extra special.
He has contacted ballet companies across the nation to see what is available to borrow, and several have stepped up. The value of the stolen costumes hasn’t been determined, but is estimated to be in the thousands of dollars. Police are investigating. The company has been performing “The Nutcracker” for nearly 40 years. The show opens Dec. 16. [Source: Pawtucket Times]
A Wichita Falls man is accused of stealing close to 12 tons of metal from the company he worked for and selling it as scrap. Ronald Gene Clark, 57, was arrested in Clay County on Nov. 20 and charged with theft. He was released the following day on $20,000 bail, reports the Times Record News. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, police were investigating a theft case where pricey stainless steal tubing was seized from someone selling it as scrap metal. That tubing was linked back to Motion Industries where Clark was working as an office manager at the time.
A detective notified Clark, who said he suspected some employee theft was going on. The detective had also learned that Clark had been selling large quantities of brass. Records showed that he had sold over 23,886 pounds of metal and received over $29,000 in cash. Documents from 133 transactions revealed that it was Clark selling the material and signing the purchase tickets stating that he owned the metal. An executive with Motion Industries told police that there would have been no reason for Clark to be selling property of that amount as scrap on behalf of the business. Clark later admitted that he took the metal from the company and said he wasn’t sure exactly how much he had stolen or how much he made from selling it all. Motion Industries completed an investigation of its inventory and concluded that the company lost $125,623.81 since May 2015 as a result of Clark’s thefts. [Source: Dallas News]
Robbery goes awry in Austria after suspect finds bank closed
This robbery failed before it began. The bank was closed. Austrian police have arrested a man who they say tried to rob a bank in Vienna — but arrived too early.
Police spokesman Patrick Maierhofer says the 45-year old suspect entered the bank foyer Tuesday armed with a gas pistol and with a hood drawn over his head but 15 minutes before opening time. He says that passers-by alerted police after the man hid his weapon under newspapers and paced nervously as he waited for the main doors to open. The man wasn’t identified in line with Austrian privacy laws. Police say his planned getaway vehicle was a stolen scooter. [Source: Yakima-Herald]
Police seek pair who stole dump truck, then teller machine
Police are trying to find two people who stole a dump truck from a housing development then used it to drag an automatic teller machine out of a grocery store in northeastern Pennsylvania. Police in Covington Township say the men attached a chain to the machine at Bill’s ShopRite grocery shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday.
The theft, captured on surveillance video, shows the men were driving a truck from Thornhurst Country Club Estates. Officials there have confirmed the vehicle is a $70,000 plow and dump truck that was stolen sometime between 1 p.m. Monday and 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. The stolen truck has since been recovered, as has part of the ATM. Police haven’t said how much money was stolen. The men were wearing masks and heavier clothing with hoods. [Source: Covington Times]
Dad left twin infants in car while shoplifting
A 22-year-old father allegedly left his 10-month-old twins alone in a car Monday morning to shoplift from Peachtree Mall, according to testimony Tuesday morning in Columbus Recorder’s Court. Kendarius Howard pleaded not guilty Tuesday to one count of theft by shoplifting and two counts each of children left unattended, reckless conduct and first-degree forgery. He was ordered held in the Muscogee County Jail. The case was bound over to Superior Court.
Authorities said they were called to the 3131 Manchester Expressway mall around 10:35 a.m. Monday after someone reported seeing 10-month-old infants in car seats alone in the rear of the vehicle. The keys were left in the ignition, according to police. The infants, whom were unharmed, were put in their grandmother’s custody, the testifying officer confirmed.
After speaking with the mall’s loss prevention department, officials said they learned that Howard, the twin’s father, allegedly stole more than $300 worth of clothing. He was taken into custody at the shopping center and charged. During his arrest, authorities said they found two counterfeit $100 bills. Howard told the court that those are the bills he received when he sold a gaming system, and he didn’t know the bills were counterfeit. [Source: Ledger-Enquirer]