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8 arrested in theft gang that took $3 million in 'high-ticket' & O-T-C
cargo earmarked for Walgreens, from train cars in Chicago area &
northwest Indiana - dozen more suspects wanted
Eight people from Indiana have been arrested for allegedly stealing computer
equipment, TVs and over-the-counter medication from freight trains in the
Chicago area and northwest Indiana, officials said today. In addition to the
rail thefts, the eight-month investigation also uncovered an auto theft ring
that stole at least 18 vehicles and two motorcycles valued at $291,000, said
Lake County, Ind., Sheriff John Buncich. In total, authorities have recovered
$2.8 million in stolen cargo and automobiles, he said. These guys really had an
operation going," he said. Authorities have issued warrants for about a dozen
more individuals from the Chicago area and Indiana in connection with the
thefts, Buncich added. After a rash of thefts from freight cars, authorities
eight months ago began investigating and found individuals stealing from rail
cars stopped overnight or for a brief period of time. The thieves targeted
"high-ticket items" that they could move easily, such as televisions, computer
equipment and more than $1 million in over-the-counter medication, like Tylenol
and Rolaids, earmarked for Walgreens, said Buncich. Afterward, the thieves sold
the goods online and at Chicago storefronts, Buncich said. Firearms were also
recovered during the investigation, he added. (Source
chicagotribune.com)
 Two
men busted with hundreds of stolen credit cards buying gift card at Office Depot
in Billings, MT. According to court records, the men were arrested
March 15 after an employee at the Office Depot in the Heights called police. The
employee said an Asian male in his 20s had attempted to buy Visa gift cards,
asking whether he could make the purchase with cash or credit. When told that
card had to be purchased with cash, the man then chose four other types of gift
cards and said he wanted to put $500 on each using a credit card. The first two
purchases made on a credit card were declined. The employee said he asked the
man for identification, and he provided a Florida's driver's license. The man
then tried a second credit card, which was also declined and the employee said
the transaction showed the card had been reported stolen. The employee called
police, then followed the man out of the store and watched him leave in a black
GMC Acadia and park at the nearby Target store. During a search of Liu, officers
said they found a large plastic shopping bag with 250 to 300 credit cards in his
jacket pocket. Both men were arrested. (Source
kbzk.com)
Yesterday's
ORC female designer purse thief identified as a suspect in same type case dating
back two years Laura Anne Pochmara, 37, who is charged with receiving
and concealing stolen property over $1,000 and organized retail crime — as well
as first-degree retail fraud — tied to a recent theft of around $2,200 in Vera
Bradley purses from the Nana’s Niche and Corner store in Milford, could soon
face charges as detectives have tied her to a 2012 shoplifting case at a Saline
boutique called Pineapple House. (Source
heritage.com)
Carlisle, PA., man hits Target stores, Walmart and Aaron rents gets busted
Stealing electronics and hitting these stores on numerous occasions he's now
facing charges from several police agencies. (Source
cumberlink.com)
Two men wanted for several retail thefts - one with two prior felony warrants
for retail theft in Silver Spring TWP., PA.
Two men hit Walmart store for $10k in tablets in Marion, IL
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"I-Device" ORC Gang Wanted for $45k in
Theft at 22 GameStop Stores
 This group is responsible for hitting 16 stores
between February and March, causing loss of $25,118. In total we
suspect they're responsible for over 45k in loss among
multiple states - including IL, MO, IN, IA, NE, and KY.
Description: Hispanic group consisting of men and women ranging
in age from late 20s to late 30s. MO: A Group of 3 or 4
suspects enter the store separately. The “distraction team” and the
“theft team”. The distraction team enters in as a single or a group
of 2 followed by the second team which heads straight to the
I-Device cabinets. The first team acts as a distraction to the
associate(s), moving them far away from consumer electronics display
cases, while the second team steals the I-Devices that are kept
locked in the cases. The second team uses a criminal tool to pick
and compromise the cabinet lock rendering it useless. With the doors
opened, the team steals as much I-Device product as they can, placing
it in a large bag or purse. Remaining members of the group will then
move in to steal tablets and phones. Suspects will quickly exit
individually. Where have they been? The crew is believed to
have started in the Chicago market as far back as December 2012 and
then resurfaced there again in February and December of 2013. In
2014, the group is suspected of resurfacing on: Feb 7 in Iowa; Feb
27 in St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City MO; on March 1 in Omaha
NE; on March 14 and 15 in Indianapolis IN, and then Louisville KY.
We are looking to identify the suspects. If anyone has similar
experiences with these suspects please contact Gamestop RLPM John
Schroeder at 513-464-7806 or at
johnschroeder@gamestop.com.
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