Rock Hill, SC: Best Buy Shoplifter said he was checking security flaws
A man was charged with shoplifting at a Rock Hill electronics store after he told police he was opening the merchandise cases to advise store management of security flaws. Craig Michael Kieffer, 37, was charged with shoplifting Friday after he was observed opening security cases at the Best Buy store. Police were called to the store around 9 p.m. Friday to a report of a man acting suspicious who was observed on the store security cameras. He was picking up items that were locked in the security cases and "messing with the items and walking back and forth," the report said. Officers confronted Kieffer, who told them he had a magnetic tool to open the cases but was "only opening them to advise management of a flaw in security." He told police that he did not work for a security company, but that he worked independently. At the request of police, Kieffer removed a device from his hoodie and showed officers "what looked to be a homemade magnetic theft device," the report said. Kieffer agreed to let officers search his vehicle and they found several new brand-name electronic devices in the truck of his car, including an Apple TV. Officers did not take the items, and they locked the vehicle back up. Kieffer was taken to the Rock Hill city jail for booking. heraldonline.com

UPDATE Aspen, CO: Judge OKs man's theft, fraud charges;
bounced a check for $196,000 for 8 Rolex Watches
Jared Mastroianni, 30, will face felony charges of both securities fraud and theft of between $100,000 and $1 million, according to the ruling made by District Judge Chris Seldin after a preliminary hearing Tuesday. Mastroianni also faces other felony counts of securities fraud, theft of between $20,000 and $100,000 and forgery related to the same cases. In January 2015, Mastroianni told the owner of Meridian Jewelers, 525 E. Cooper Ave., he wanted to buy eight Rolex watches for his "top employees," according to court documents. He ended up taking possession of five of the watches valued at $196,250 after writing a check that later bounced. In the securities fraud case, an Aspen-area couple gave Mastroianni $60,000 because they thought he was a financial adviser who worked for a company called "Strategic Point," according to court documents. The couple later became suspicious that Mastroianni wasn't who he said he was and discovered he had no affiliation to the company. aspentimes.com

Evans, GA: Two women were arrested in $5,000 theft from AT&T
Police were called to the AT&T store after a store clerk said he witnessed two females on surveillance video shoplifting a mini drone, phone cases and other items and placing them in bags before leaving. Deputies quickly tracked down the get-a-way car. The driver was identified as Antoinnette Norris and the passenger was identified as Lillian Dawkins. The search uncovered a mini drone still in the packaging sitting on the backseat along with three pairs of sunglasses in the center console and three pairs of sunglasses in the glove box. In addition, two black trashbags were found on the rear floorboards and contained numerous Otter Box phone cases, cellphone cords, a bluetooth speaker, jewelry, and clothing. About half of the merchandise still had prices still attached to them, totaling $5,368.14. augusta.com


Jonesboro, AR: Cell Phone thieves targeting Walmart
According to the Jonesboro police report, two men stole several cell phones. According to JPD, they cut the phones out of their boxes, separating them from the locking device that keeps it on the rack. A couple of minutes later, they were seen on video stuffing the empty boxes behind other shelved items in other parts of the store. The loss prevention at Walmart reported they took seven phones. kait8.com



Denver, CO: 388 Rings recovered from theft at Tanque Verde Swap Meet
Pima County Sheriff's Department arrested a man and woman for the theft of $3,000 to $4,000 of custom made jewelry. Police found the vehicle used in the get-a-way at a local motel, using information obtained from witnesses at the Flee Market. kvoa.com




Meridian, ID: Police seek women who stole more than $1K worth of merchandise at Village in Meridian
Deputy chief Tracy Basterrechea said the women were at the Pro Image on March 31 when they put clothes and jewelry in bags they had with them. They left the store without paying. kboi2.com

Gloucester, MA: Homeless man busted for $800 theft from Walgreens

Alpharetta, GA: 3 kids watch mother's arrest for felony shoplifting; $520 in stolen merchandise recovered

East Lampeter Twp, PA: Police seeking id on $550 Walmart thief

 

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