New Mexico man convicted of felony shoplifting
A jury convicted Joseph Montoya late Friday for felony and misdemeanor shoplifting charges stemming from two separate incidents at Walmart in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, 12th Judicial District Attorney John P. Sugg announced Monday. Montoya could be seen filling a shopping a cart with about $900-worth of store merchandise and grocery items, the district attorney said. While Montoya successfully evaded authorities after his first shoplifting attempt, he was apprehended two weeks later when loss prevention staff identified and followed him through the store.
Sugg said this is not Montoya’s first run-in with the law. He has two prior felony convictions, possession with Intent to distribute a controlled substance from 2007, and on 2013, convictions for false evidence of title and registration, for fraud by worthless check, and for battery against a household member. Because of his criminal history, Montoya is subject to a mandatory sentencing enhancement of four years at the Department of Corrections for being a habitual offender. Sentencing is expected to occur later this week before District Judge Dan Bryant. Lincoln County Deputy District Attorney David Clements handled the case. [For more: Ruidoso News]
Four arrested for $30K credit card fraud
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada police have arrested four people from Toronto who allegedly went on a $30,000 shopping spree with stolen credit cards. Two men and two women are believed to have purchased jewelry, cellphones and a host of other items from 10 different stores using phony credit cards, according to police. The four suspects, ranging in ages from 27 to 42, have been charged with a total of 64 criminal offenses, including theft, possession of stolen property, credit card fraud and breach of recognizance. Police detectives in both Sarnia and Toronto worked together in the investigation. All the charges from Sarnia have been transferred to Toronto. [For more: CBC News]
Two charged with identity theft
Two Coolbaugh Township women are charged with taking the credit card information of a man one of them was caring for and using that information without his permission to make purchases. Tanisha Henderson, 27, and Tamara A. Clark, 29, are charged with identity theft, theft, unauthorized use of a credit card and conspiracy to all three crimes. Clark was released on bail and Henderson was placed in Monroe County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 bail. Both are awaiting district court hearings. In December, Care Givers of America, which employed Henderson at the time, contacted police about unauthorized ATM withdrawals on the account of her patient, who suffers from a traumatic brain injury. An investigation revealed 43 fraudulent credit card purchases totaling $5,111.18 between December and January. Henderson’s mother is among people records identify as making these fraudulent purchases.
Purchases totaling $732.50 of this $5,111.18 were at the Tobyhanna Food Express. Store surveillance video shows Henderson making ATM transactions on dates provided by Citizens Bank, which had issued Henderson’s patient the card being fraudulently used. With Henderson at the time was a woman identified as Clark, a former Food Express employee. The patient’s card was used in December and January to withdraw $1,107 from PNC Bank in Tannersville. The person making the December withdrawal has not been identified, but two former Care Giver employees identified Henderson as making the January withdrawal. The patient told police he had never given Henderson permission to use his card and that Clark frequently was with Henderson when at the patient’s home. [For more: Pocono News]
18-year-old charged with robbery after shoplifting incident
An 18-year-old has been charged with robbery after an incident in Montgomery, Alabama, police department officials said. According to Capt. Regina Duckett, Destiny Leshay Quinn has been charged with robbery second degree. The charges are relating to a shoplifting incident that happened on June 7 in the 2500 block of Berryhill Road. During the commission of the theft, physical contact was made with the loss prevention associate, according to Duckett. The LP associate sustained a minor injury. [For more: Pocono Record]
Steal in this Alabama town; See your mugshot on Facebook
In a statement released Monday morning, the Oxford Police Department is making it clear that shoplifters are not wanted in their town. In its announcement of six recent shoplifting arrests, the Oxford P.D. posted the following on its Facebook page this morning:
A quick reminder to those thinking of coming to Oxford to steal. Your picture could end up here. Don’t do it, it’s NOT worth it! For the week of 07/08/2017 – 07/15/2017 there were SIX shoplifting arrests that met the social media posting criteria. Like what we’re doing? Want to be in the know about what’s happening in Oxford? Let us know by LIKING THIS POST! Thank you to all of the loss prevention personnel at work in The City of Oxford that makes most shoplifting arrests possible!!!
This isn’t the first time the Oxford Police Department has used social media to warn would-be criminals and track down suspects. The men and women of the Oxford Police force hope that spreading the word on social media will keep the public aware of crimes and wanted suspects in their community. It’s not uncommon for criminals to post about their crimes on social media or boast about their illegal activities, apparently unaware that police can often see this information as well. If you live in the Oxford area and would like to keep up with crimes and wanted suspects in your community, make sure to like the Oxford Police Department on Facebook. [For more: Yellow Hammer News]
The post Breaking News in the Industry: July 18, 2017 appeared first on LPM.