Daytona cops capture three women in citywide shoplifting spree
Three women police said were on a shoplifting spree hit Daytona Beach, Florida, stores stealing more than $10,000 in merchandise before being caught by police inside the Volusia Mall and arrested. The three Tampa women, Ronesha Grecham Toliver, 24, Earnisha Williams, 23, and Raven Wimbush, 26, were corralled inside Volusia Mall on Monday night after police converged at the shopping complex and had officers guarding every door. The women were actually continuing their retail theft binge after stealing at stores on several other stops, including at the Tanger Outlet a few miles away, investigators said. Daytona Beach police spokeswoman Lyda Longa said Tuesday they were not aware if the women were operating all over the state. “We do consider them a retail theft ring for our city,” Longa said.
The women entered the stores with empty shopping bags and purses and walked out with them full of merchandise. At one store, an employee confronted Williams, who had a rolled up shirt hidden under her clothes. Williams told the store worker that “it’s a colostomy bag,” police reports state. Police were first called to the Tanger Outlets where the three women had taken more than $1,000 in merchandise from the Gap Factory Store. While police were investigating the theft at the Gap, they learned that the three women had also walked into the OshKosh B’gosh store where they stole $102 worth of merchandise and along the way, by now on International Speedway Boulevard, hit the Total Wine & Spirits store where they took bottles of tequila valued at $350. The women continued to leave a trail of victimized businesses when they entered the Old Navy on ISB. There, police said the women took $2,585 in goods. Police gave out descriptions of the women and that of the black Nissan car they were driving and alerted security at the Volusia Mall. Shortly after, Volusia Mall security called police after spotting the women, reports state. Police immediately secured the Volusia Mall and when officers entered the shopping complex on West International Speedway Boulevard, they found the Tampa women at JCPenney where they were arrested. Toliver was charged with retail theft of $300 or more and grand theft. Wimbush and Williams were each charged include retail theft of $300 or more and principal to grand theft. Williams and Wimbush were being held Tuesday on $30,000 bail each while Toliver was in jail without bail. [For more: News – Journal]
Shoplifting suspects mace LP associates [Video]
Henry County Georgia Police said the two women were trying to shoplift from the Target on Jonesboro Road in McDonough, Georgia. Police said when the loss prevention officer confronted them one of them nonchalantly sprayed the associate with mace. The video shows other employees trying to run after them after they realized what happened to the employee. Both did get away and police are now actively searching for them. Anyone who recognizes them or has information about the incident should call the Henry County Police Department. [For more: Fox5 News]
Counterfeit items pose risk to the public
Six people are facing charges after a raid at the Mercadome Flea Market in Alamo, Texas. Homeland Security Investigations and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office made the bust on Sunday. The people arrested were allegedly selling fake name brand purses, wallets and coolers. The flea market does prohibit the sale of counterfeit and pirated goods. Matthew Bourke, spokesperson for the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, said counterfeit items have multiple negative impacts. “The sale of counterfeit goods has a negative impact on the economy,” said Bourke.
Bourke said counterfeit items also pose a health and safety risk. The products are made with materials even legitimate manufacturers would not use. He also said people’s money won’t be well spent for long. “The stitching is dirty; you put it in the wash maybe a few times it comes apart,” he said. He said the money spent goes straight into the pockets of criminal organizations. “Where counterfeit goods are being manufactured overseas, they’re being manufactured by large scale criminal organizations,” he said. Bourke said proceeds from the counterfeit goods are used to bail out other gang members or for human and drug trafficking. [For more: KRGV5 News]
Staples to be acquired by Sycamore Partners for $6.9B
Staples is being acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners for approximately $6.9 billion, according to a company statement issued Wednesday evening. It is Sycamore’s biggest deal yet, according to Bloomberg. Under terms of the merger agreement, Staples’ stockholders will receive $10.25 per share in cash, a premium of roughly 20% before trading was halted on April 3 as rumors of a sale circulated. The transaction is expected to close no later than December 17. “With an iconic brand, a winning strategy, and dedicated and passionate associates who are deeply focused on the customer, Staples is truly an outstanding enterprise,” said Stefan Kaluzny, managing director of Sycamore Partners, in a statement. “We have tremendous confidence in CEO Shira Goodman and great respect for the Staples management team and are excited about this opportunity to partner with them to accelerate long-term profitability.” [For more: Retail Dive]
LP Worldwide: UK man jailed for fraudulent credit card transactions
Deep Mann, 28 of South Park Road, Ilford, was a prolific fraudster who scammed several small businesses. He was arrested on Sunday, 29 January 2016 and charged on Wednesday, 19 April 2017 with seven counts of fraud. He appeared in custody the following day at Ealing Magistrates’ Court. He then appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on 18 May where he pleaded guilty on his first appearance due to the overwhelming amount of evidence against him. He was sentenced on Monday, 26 June to two years’ imprisonment.
Between 30 September 2015 and 30 January 2016, Mann used fraudulently obtained credit card details from American credit card holders, which he used to purchase luxury goods from various shops and small businesses across the boroughs of Ealing, Merton, Bromley, Redbridge, Essex and Hertfordshire. He made purchases over the telephone, which included expensive household goods such as washing machines, tumble driers, household electrical goods, bathroom suites, showers, plumbing items relevant to the fitting of bathrooms and showers, alloy wheels, wood flooring and tiles for flooring. Once the card details were taken, Mann then contacted unsuspecting local courier services to collect the goods and met up with them at various locations away from his home address. Ealing officers were alerted to one of the frauds by a local business on the borough when a card holder called their bank to query purchases. Detective Sergeant Lee Hand from Ealing CID said: “This was a fantastic result, which has seen a prolific fraudster who scammed lots of innocent people taken out of circulation. “His thoughtless offenses affected small businesses who could not afford to take such a financial hit and are now having to recoup loss of earnings. “As a result of an effective and determined investigation, such a volume of evidence was obtained against Mann that he pleaded guilty at his first court appearance and has received a lengthy time behind bars, which I hope will give some closure to his victims. “Our message is clear – if you commit such an offense you will be caught and put before the courts to face the consequences.” [For more: Metropolitan Police UK]
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