Shoplifting suspect injures deputy while fleeing
Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of theft in progress at the Home Depot in the City of Goleta, California. When Sheriff’s deputies arrived, they located the shoplifting suspect, 29-year-old Jeffrey Morgan of Oxnard, attempting to flee the scene in a vehicle. In his attempt to evade authorities, Morgan jumped out of his running vehicle, which struck a Goleta Motor Unit causing minor injuries to the deputy. The suspect then fled on foot, across the parking lot. He scaled a fence and ran through a busy intersection and was ultimately apprehended by deputies in a hotel parking lot. Morgan was determined to be on parole for armed robbery and the vehicle he was driving was stolen out of the West Hills area of Los Angeles. He was treated at the scene for minor injuries he sustained while jumping over the fence. Morgan was medically cleared and booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of felony resisting arrest, felony hit and run, burglary, felony vandalism, obstructing/delaying a police investigation, possession of a burglary tool, possession of hydrocodone, committing a felony while out on bail, possession of psilocybin (mushrooms), driving a vehicle with a suspended drivers license and possession of a stolen vehicle. Additionally, a parole hold was placed on Morgan. Fortunately, the deputy who was injured only received minor abrasions and was treated at the scene. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office contracts with the City of Goleta for police services. [Source: edhat]
Purses stolen out of manager’s hands at outlet store
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a robbery at the Grove City Premium Outlets where several purses were grabbed right out of a store manager’s hands. The incident happened around 9 p.m. on Valentine’s Day at the Michael Kors store just after closing time. Police said they have now identified the culprits who allegedly stole the merchandise. Kendal Morris. Jr., 19, and Aquiria Bowers, 20, have warrants issued for their arrests and are charged with robbery, theft by unlawful taking or disposition, receiving stolen property and retail theft. Police said the two entered the store and grabbed purses on display, the manager grabbing them to stop them from being stolen. The suspects then forcibly removed them from her grasp and fled the store with 16 purses valued at $4,500. [Source: WFMJ21 News]
First quarter 2018 cargo theft trend analysis
The CargoNet Command Center recorded 293 supply chain intelligence events in the United States and Canada in first-quarter 2018. A total of 159 events involved cargo theft. Cargo theft reports combined in both countries dropped 23% year-over-year. CargoNet also noted a marked decrease in the average value per event, which dropped to $90,883 per event in first-quarter 2018 from $164,185 in first-quarter 2017. Other events involved fraud, theft of a trucking vehicle, or other police intelligence. In total, 98 semi-tractors and 119 semi-trailers were reported stolen in first-quarter 2018, down from 138 semi-tractors and 149 semi-trailers in first-quarter 2017.
Food and beverage remained the most stolen commodity category, but thefts of this commodity decreased 39% year-over-year. Nonalcoholic beverages were the most stolen kind of food and beverage freight. Household cargo and electronics cargo were the second and third most stolen commodities. Thefts of household cargo remained the same when compared with first-quarter 2017, but thefts of electronics were up 64% year-over-year. Data from first-quarter 2018 shows that recent law enforcement action in New Jersey has been very successful. Cargo theft in the state dropped 60% compared with first-quarter 2017. Most states recorded decreases in cargo theft in first-quarter 2018. Other notable changes in first-quarter 2018 include a drop from 29 reported cargo thefts in first-quarter 2017 to 9 in first-quarter 2018 in the Province of Ontario and reported cargo thefts in Texas dropping from 22 in first-quarter 2017 to 14 in first-quarter 2018. [Source: American Journal of Transportation]
Woman charged for retail thefts
A Racine, Wiconsin, woman with a history of retail theft convictions has been charged for taking merchandise straight from Walmart’s shelves to its return counter, without paying for it. Joann Andrews, 59, is charged with two counts of misdemeanor theft and two counts of misdemeanor bail jumping. According to the criminal complaint, Andrews can be seen on store surveillance footage entering Walmart with nothing but her purse and cane. She then placed an air bed in her shopping cart and walked past the cash registers to the customer service desk. Andrews returned the air bed that she just took from the store’s shelf without paying for it. Because Andrews did not have a receipt for the bed, the worker at the return desk took a scan of her ID before giving her a gift card for the price of the air mattress. Andrews proceeded to purchase $71.47 worth of merchandise with the card.
Andrews was caught on video entering the same Walmart with an empty shopping cart. She then put an air fryer in her cart, and again headed past the cash registers to the customer service desk to return it. After receiving a gift card for the cost of the fryer, Andrews then bought $22.23 worth of merchandise with the card. One of Walmart’s loss prevention associates reported the theft to Mount Pleasant Police. Andrews was taken into custody on May 11 after she returned to the store and attempted to use the fraudulently obtained gift cards. At that time, police found that there were two active warrants out of Kenosha County for her arrest, one of them for retail theft. Andrews has a history of retail theft convictions in Wisconsin dating back to 1991. Andrews was convicted of retail theft on three separate occasions in Racine County in 1991. She was convicted of retail theft two more times in Racine County in 1997 and 1998. A pretrial conference in the case is set for June 21 at the Law Enforcement Center. [Source: The Journal Times]
Man charged with evading arrest after foot pursuit
On Monday,Nshville, Tennessee, officers were notified by loss prevention associates at The Home Depot of a man that attempted to walk through the garden center with an air conditioner without paying it. According to a Metro Police affidavit, the suspect then left the air conditioner near the entrance and got into a black BMW and drove towards the parking lot’s exit. Police spotted the vehicle and conducted a stop to investigate the theft. The driver, which was the theft suspect, was detained and put in back of the police vehicle. As police gathered information from the other passengers, the front passenger, identified as Kiracuras Johnson, removed his seat belt and reached for the door handle. An officer told Johnson not to move but instead got out of the vehicle and fled on foot. After several verbal commands from police to stop, Johnson continued to run away. A police helicopter was able to eventually track him down. After another brief foot pursuit, Johnson was taken into custody. Officers discovered that Johnson gave told them an incorrect name and social security number during questioning and that he had an outstanding warrant. The theft suspect was released. Johnson was charged with evading arrest. [Source: Fox17 News]
Alleged drug store thief charged in ‘thank you’ gas station robbery
An Easton, Pennsylvania, man accused of stealing cash from a city drug store is now facing charges in a Turkey Hill holdup where the robber reportedly said, “Thank you.” Justin Roth, 32, is being held in Northampton County Prison on charges stemming from the April 18 robbery at the Rite Aid pharmacy, Northampton and North Ninth streets in Easton. On Monday, Pennsylvania State Police charged Roth in connection with an April 12 robbery of the Turkey Hill on Morgan Hill Road in Williams Township.
Police said Roth, wearing dark clothing and a black ski mask, walked into the gas station convenience store and up to two clerks working at the counter. Roth, who had his hand under his shirt making it appear he had a weapon, told the clerks to “give me your money,” troopers said. The clerks handed over about $400 and Roth reportedly said “thank you” before fleeing, according to state police. Roth is charged with two counts each of robbery, theft and making terroristic threats in the Turkey Hill case. Those charges join the robbery, theft and simple assault charges Roth is facing in the Rite Aid case. In that case, Ross was arrested after police stopped a black GMC Envoy. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail at Northampton County Prison, and was awaiting arraignment in the Turkey Hill case. [Source: LehighValleyLive]
