Highland Park, TX: Thieves in van smash through Chanel store
Cops caught seven people who tried to steal high-end purses after crashing a van into the Chanel Store. It happened around 6:30 a.m. Monday at the store in Highland Park Village on Mockingbird Lane and Preston Road. Police said it appears the suspects first tried to use tools to break in. Then they used a maroon van to smash through a glass window. An off-duty police officer who was working security saw the suspect load as many as 50 handbags into the van and another vehicle. fox4news.com


San Diego, CA: Armed Robbers steal $21,000 worth of cellphones
from Pacific Beach AT&T store
San Diego police sought Tuesday two men who held up a cell phone store in Pacific Beach. One of the men pulled a gun at the AT&T store on Garnet Avenue near Lamont Street around 7:45 p.m. Monday, San Diego police Officer Dino Delimitros said. According to early reports, 23 phones were stolen. The phones were Samsung and iPhones with an estimated value of $21,000. cbs8.com

Stamford, CT: 70 Page Rap Sheet; Serial shoplifter stopped in Stamford
Robert Lee's criminal history, which shows he has been arrested by a stunning 41 different law enforcement agencies throughout his life. Lee, of the Bronx, doesn't so much have a rap sheet as a rap book -70 pages long - said Capt. Richard Conklin, who along with Officer Stephen Lopez took the serial shoplifter into custody Friday night as he was allegedly casing stores in the Stamford Town Center Mall. stamfordadvocate.com


Cops hunt 2 Manhattan ATM skimming gangs who have stolen $16,600
Police are asking the public's help in cracking two ATM skimming gangs in Manhattan. Two apparently unconnected two-man crews placed skimming devices on ATMs at a Midtown CVS and a bank and deli on the Upper East Side, then used customers' banking info to take out thousands of dollars with duplicate debit cards, police said. The first crew set up skimmers at a CVS on Fifth Ave. near 37th St. and a Bank of America on E. 96th. St., according to cops. They then made more than $7,800 in withdrawals at banks in Queens in October and December. Crew no. 2 put its device on an ATM at the Green Gourmet Deli on Lexington Ave., then made more than $8,800 in withdrawals in early December, authorities said. nydailynews.com

Frankford, NJ: Ninja Blender thieves hitting Walmart sought
by New Jersey State Police
An elusive pair of shoplifters who State Police say swiped a dozen Ninja blenders from Walmarts in Sussex and Morris counties are still at large, although detectives are sure they know the couple's names and getaway car thanks to social media. The couple pulls the same stunt at each store, hiding a Ninja blender - which sells for $175-$235 - in their cart under bags of less expensive purchased items - let's assume puppy chow. State Police put store surveillance photos of the couple on Facebook last week, and within 20 minutes got a bunch of calls identifying the Ninja-loving duo, CBS News reports. njtvonline.com

Framingham, MA: Woman busted stealing $1,400 worth of coats from Ski Shop
Two days after police said she stole a coat from a Rte. 9 store, a Malden woman returned to the store wearing the stolen coat. Framingham Police arrested Shaquila Anderson, 22, at the Summit Ski and Snowboarding store on Rt. 9 on Sunday at 4:08 p.m., according to a police report. Store employees told police that Anderson and a second woman, who has not been identified, had stolen two jackets valued at $1,400 on Friday. The second woman distracted the clerks while Anderson hid the jackets under her jacket and fled the store. wickedlocal.com