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Tucson, AZ: Crime Trackers: TPD, neighborhood association team up
to stop thieves
Tucson Police Department has teamed up with a neighborhood association to fight
this type of crime. The Circle K is a popular convenience store for the
neighborhood. It was also a target for thieves. "This happened over a course of
five or six months," Det. Jesse Chlopowicz said. "They would go in every day,
multiple times a day, steal the beer and walk out. This happened every day for
six months." Chlopowicz works the city's South Side. He and other detectives
from the Organized Retail Theft unit tracked this theft ring for months. Sgt.
Nancy Fatura heads the neighborhood crime section. She revamped the online
reporting tool convenience store clerks use. "I am able to have a better format
for the way they have reported their crimes and I am able to ID repeat offenders
and trends." said Fatura. That was how Chlopowicz ultimately was able to arrest
seven people on charges of 154 felony counts of aggravated shoplifting, totaling
$10,000. When these people were arrested, detectives made a shocking discovery.
kvoa.com
 Tacoma,
WA: Woman Sentenced to More Than Two Years for Organized Shoplifting at
Centralia Outlets
A Lewis County Superior Court judge sentenced a Tacoma woman to 25 months in
prison on Wednesday for organizing a retail theft operation at the Centralia
Factory Outlets using three juveniles, including one of her children. "I want to
apologize for being here. I took something that didn't belong to me," said
Rosemary Valderas Valencia, who appeared in court out of custody. She said she
didn't plan on having the juveniles steal anything; it was their choice.
However, while wiping tears from her eyes, she said she takes full
responsibility. Valencia, 44, pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree
organized retail theft on March 4. The standard sentencing range for the charges
is 14 to 18 months in prison, but the state recommended 29 months based on
aggravating factors including prior misdemeanor and felony criminal history,
abuse of a position of trust and a destructive impact to people other than the
victims. Valencia's prior criminal history includes multiple cases of second and
third-degree theft, aggravated first-degree theft, shoplifting and organized
retail theft, among other convictions, in Washington and Oregon between 1990 and
2013.
chrononline.com
 Las
Cruces, NM Woman, stepson suspected in Target shoplifting scheme; $400 in
headphones and printer ink
Angelica Joy Green, 27, is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a
minor, a fourth-degree felony. Her 13-year-old stepson was given a juvenile
Class III citation, charging him with shoplifting nearly $400 worth of
merchandise. Police responded to the report of shoplifting at Target, Officers
found Green and her stepson in the parking lot. Police said the 13-year-old boy
was captured on video surveillance stealing two Beats headphones and a cartridge
for printer ink. The store's loss prevention witnessed the boy exiting the store
without paying for the items, then handing the ink cartridge to Green, who
entered the store and tried to return the merchandise for cash.
lcsun-news.com
 Easton,
PA: Police nab accused repeat shoplifter after Legos go missing
A repeat shoplifter at the Northampton Crossings was nabbed after attempting to
leave Wal-Mart without paying for three Lego sets. James Richard Brittain, 31,
on Monday allegedly grabbed three Lego sets off a shelf, valued at $207.54, and
walked through the self check-out area without paying. Police said Brittain had
a woman and small child with him. Officers were familiar with Brittain, who
police said was stealing from an another store in the Lower Nazareth shopping
center. Brittain on Feb. 22 allegedly entered the Kohl's, pulled $161.98 worth
of merchandise off the shelf and went to customer service to return the items
without a receipt. Police said Brittain was successful and was offered store
credit. On Feb. 23, Brittain returned to Kohl's, selecting an $89.99 item and
once again, attempting to return without a receipt, received store credit. On
Feb. 24, Brittain returned to Kohl's pulled $139.98 worth of items off the shelf
and brought the merchandise to customer service, again in search of merchandise
credit. On March 3, Brittain went to Kohl's again and selected a Kitchenaide
mixer, valued at $349.99, and walked to customer service in search of an
exchange, it was denied, but he proceeded to leave the store with the mixer and
didn't pay for it.
lehighvalleylive.com
Agoura Hills, CA: Shoplifters stole $1,000 worth of merchandise, including baby
formula, vodka and nail polish, from the CVS
Barboursville, WV: Sears shoplifter flees Huntington Mall, caught with 83 Xanax,
over $300 in Power Tools
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