Shoplifting rookie cop nabbed, may face termination
A rookie cop still in the Police Academy has been accused of stealing Prada sunglasses, a North Face jacket and Calvin Klein underwear, police said Monday. Officer Julia Carmona, 32, was charged with petty larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, and may be terminated as a result. Cops with less than two years on the force can be fired without an internal hearing, and often are, even for misdemeanors.
Police said store loss prevention stopped her on Sunday at Kings Plaza in Brooklyn with $846 worth of stolen goods: $400 sunglasses, a $179 jacket, $170 worth of bedding, $42 worth of underwear and a $55 face cleaner. [Source: NY Daily News]
ORC ring arrested after theft and chase
Two California women were arrested Saturday by Petaluma Police after reported retail theft activity at the Petaluma Village Premium Outlets. The estimated loss was over $2,500. The suspects were identified as Erynn Chavis, 18 of Antioch, and Leimani Lee-Barker, 18 of Hayward who were taken into custody after a brief pursuit.
According to Petaluma police, officers were dispatched to a retail theft actively occurring at Tommy Hilfiger in the Petaluma Village Premium Outlets. A description of the suspects and their vehicle was provided, and the estimated loss was over $2,500.00. The suspects fled prior to the officers arrival.
Police say within seconds, the officer spotted the described vehicle traveling southbound on Highway 101, obtained the license plate, and attempted to stop it. The vehicle immediately sped up to speeds around 85 MPH, and a pursuit was initiated. Due to rainy conditions, traffic, and the suspect’s unsafe driving, the pursuit was terminated after the officer lost sight of the vehicle.
Shortly thereafter, a Novato Police officer located the abandoned vehicle parked near where it was last seen. Two females, identified as Leimani Lee-Barker and Erynn Chavis, matching the provided descriptions were located nearby and arrested. The driver remains outstanding but has been tentatively identified. However, police are withholding his name is not being released at this time. The vehicle was seized as evidence, and Lee-Barker and Chavis were booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of grand theft. [Source: East County Today]
Survey: Supply chain inaccuracy causes more loss than theft
Retailers have an inventory headache and it’s not from shoplifting. Inaccurate inventories are to blame for more lost revenue than theft, according to the results of a recent survey from supply chain data service provider Bossa Nova Robotics. Nearly all the survey respondents (99 percent) said they have some kind of constant inventory problem, with 87 percent pegging it as a top source of lost revenue; far more than the 13 percent who fingered theft as the top revenue source, San Francisco-based Bossa Nova said.
The email survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 100 corporate retail professionals with a title of director or greater, at companies with $500 million or more in annual revenue (excluding clothing and department stores) during December, 2018. [Source: DC Velocity]
Couple collared after $1,600 theft
A Florida couple was jailed Saturday after they allegedly spent three hours shopping at a Tavares department store, then allegedly tried to walk out with $1,600 in merchandise in bags and under their clothes. According to an arrest report, store loss prevention associates watched as Robbie Lynn Harper, 42, and Amanda Charles, 30, walked around Kohl’s department store for several hours filling a shopping cart. At some point, Harper reportedly grabbed some shopping bags from behind the counter while cashiers weren’t looking, walked to the men’s fitting room and emerged some time later with the bags full of merchandise.
An LP associate followed the pair as they left the store and walked down the sidewalk, and police showed up and stopped them.Police found $1,600 in merchandise in the bags and even discovered that Harper was wearing some Kohl’s clothing under his own clothes. Officers also found heroin in their possession. Harper was charged with retail theft of more than $300 and possession of drug paraphernalia. Charles was also charged with retail theft over $300 and possession of heroin. [Source: Daily Commercial]
Suspect arrested for theft then damaging a police vehicle
A 25-year-old Missouri man reportedly damaged an Arnold Police car while resisting arrest following an alleged shoplifting incident at the Kohl’s store. An officer was called to the store after the man allegedly stole a drone and a GPS device, together valued at $850. The man refused to comply with the officer, and while the suspect was pinned against the police car, dented the hood, the report said.
The man also had a large hunting-style knife on his right hip. After the man was restrained, he was transported to the police station and was booked and later released pending application for warrants, according to the report. Arnold Police will seek charges against the man through the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for shoplifting, property damage and resisting arrest, Wooldridge said. [Source: Leader Publications]
