Pack of robbers stealing from Manhattan running stores [Video]
Police in New York City are searching for a group of men who they say were involved in multiple running store robberies. Officials say the robberies were first reported in June. According to police, the suspects quickly grabbed clothing from Manhattan and the stores that were targeted are on the Upper East Side In each case, the individuals go in and grab merchandise before running out… the NYPD released this information:
- On Tuesday, June 20th, 2017 at approximately 4 p.m. a group entered the Jack Rabbit store at 1051 3rd Avenue and proceeded to grab various merchandise with an approximate value of $2,015 and fled unknown direction.
- On Monday, July 10th, 2017 at approximately 5:10 p.m., a group entered the Nike store at 1131 Third Avenue and proceeded to grab various merchandise with an approximate value of $1,200 and fled unknown direction.
- On Friday, July 14th, 2017 at approximately 6:50 p.m., a group went to the same Third Avenue Nike Store and proceeded to grab various merchandise with an approximate value of $2,583 and fled unknown direction.
Police released video of showing the group in one of the Nike thefts. All of the suspects are described as male Blacks, in their teens or early twenties. Police ask anyone with information to call 1-800-577-TIPS. They say that all calls are strictly confidential. [Source: Fox5NY News]
Michigan man facing life in prison on retail fraud charge
A 37-year-old Cedar Springs, Michigan man is facing life in prison after he was charged recently in 84th District Court with retail fraud. Austin Earl Vodry was charged with first-degree retail fraud for his connection with an incident occurring on or about July 17, 2016 in the Haring Township Tractor Supply store. A habitual offender fourth-degree notice was added to the charge which means with the enhancement on the five-year felony he faces up to life in prison. A $10,000 cash or surety bond was issued and he has a probable cause conference scheduled for 1 p.m. on Aug. 22. [Source: Cadillac News]
Two shoplifting suspects in custody after pursuit; third suspect on the run
Two police departments are looking for a suspect who they say ran away after an accident. Lieutenant Michael Brennan of the Ludlow Police Department in Massachusetts told reporters officers were following three suspects who allegedly shoplifted at The Home Depot store in Wilbraham around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday evening, when they crashed into a vehicle around 73 Center Street. Lieutenant Brennan said the pursuit went from Wilbraham into Ludlow where the three suspects ran after crashing into another vehicle and causing some property damage. Two of the suspects are currently in custody and Lieutenant Brennan said the third suspect is still on the run. Lieutenant Met Calfe of the Ludlow Police Department told reporters one of the two suspects in custody has five outstanding warrants out for his arrest and the other is facing disorderly conduct charges. Brennan said that police believe the third suspect has left the area completely but Wilbraham and Ludlow police are still searching for him. Lieutenant Calfe said three people suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital by medical services. [Source: WWLP22 News]
Four New Yorkers charged in Newark shoplifting ring
Four residents of Brooklyn, New York, were arrested last week and charged with stealing a large quantity of over-the-counter medication from two Acme markets in Newark, New Jersey. The investigation began August 19 when a loss prevention associate from the College Square Acme flagged down a police officer patrolling the shopping center to report four suspected shoplifters who were inside the store. Acme employees recognized the four as people suspected of stealing from the Acme in Suburban Plaza, according to Sergeant Gerald Bryda, a spokesman for the Newark Police Department. Police saw three of the suspects leaving the shopping center, stopped their car and arrested them.
“A search of the vehicle revealed a large amount of over-the-counter medications, which were traced back to both Acme stores,” Bryda said.Amtrak Police arrested the fourth suspect at the Wilmington train station after the suspect acted suspiciously and abandoned a bag full of stolen medicine, Bryda said. Those arrested include Daquan Blount, 25; Cleotilda Durant-Davis, 46; Ashley Fitzpatrick, 25; and Anthony Francois, 23. All four were charged with organized retail crime, shoplifting, third-degree conspiracy and possession of shoplifting tools. They were jailed in lieu of bail. In total, police recovered $1,248 worth of medicine stolen from the two stores. [Source: Newark Post]
Employee stole more than $484,000 from Illinois firm
Police said a Decatur, Illinois, woman faces charges of stealing more than $484,000 from her employer and spending the money on everything from house payments to credit card bills and online shopping. Decatur police arrested Natalie E. Stout, 37, and booked her on a preliminary charge of theft; preliminary charges are subject to review by the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office. An attorney for Stout was not listed in court documents. A sworn affidavit from police officer Jason Derbort said Stout helped herself to the cash in a long run that stretched from 2013 to December 2016, when her employers at Decatur firm JD Properties became suspicious and fired her. Derbort said Stout’s duties included handling rent collections for the rental property company and taking in cash and check rent payments. A JD Properties spokeswoman declined to comment on the case when contacted Monday by the Herald & Review.
Derbort said Stout’s bank records had been obtained through a grand jury subpoena. The records showed large amounts of cash being deposited into her account through the years, while her legitimate annual salary from JD Properties varied between $18,522 in 2014 and $17,910 in 2016. “An audit of the accounting documents and bank records of JD Properties was completed by Sikich LLP which determined approximately $484,877 was missing,” Derbort said in the affidavit. Police said an analysis of Stout’s bank records showed her spending on everything from house and vehicle payments to credit card bills. And, between 2013 and 2016, Stout lavished more than $79,000 alone on predominantly online shopping purchases. Stout is free after posting a $20,000 bond. A condition of her bail is that she stays away from JD Properties. She is due to be arraigned Sept. 22. [Source: Herald & Review]
Urban delivery drones take to the skies in Iceland
Drone delivery company Flytrex on Wednesday partnered with AHA, Iceland’s largest online marketplace, to provide delivery by drone in Reykjavik. The partnership creates the world’s “first operational on-demand urban drone delivery service.” Using drones, Reykjavik’s food and consumer goods delivery industry will reduce costs by increasing efficiency, reducing energy consumption and streamlining delivery logistics. The Icelandic Transport Authority approved the companies’ request to use drones to deliver food and consumer products from shops to a precise point across the city. Drone deliveries can save up to 20 minutes during peak traffic hours, according to Flytrex and AHA. [Source: Supply Chain Drive]
Online shopping killed retail… but now it’s coming back to save it
Brick-and-mortar retailers are looking for salvation in an unlikely place: The e-commerce rivals blamed with causing their recent challenges in the first place. Macy’s announced that it had tapped a top eBay executive as its new president as part of a broader overhaul. Former senior vice president of eBay North America Hal Lawton will be installed as the department store’s new president beginning next month. Macy’s said it also is consolidating management of its merchandising, planning and private brands into a single department, a change that will cost around 100 jobs. The company heralded the changes as a step forward. “With Hal on the team, we will accelerate the integration of digital both online and in our stores,” Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette said in a statement. “The growth area is definitely online versus in stores,” said Bridget Weishaar, senior equity analyst at Morningstar. “Investing in people who have a background in and a deep knowledge in how to execute on that makes a whole lot of sense,” she said.
Some experts even say traditional retailers’ survival might depend on this strategy.“They need to massively strengthen their presence and expertise in internet commerce and mobile commerce in order to even have a chance of meaningfully competing with online behemoths like Amazon. Otherwise, the chance of their survival is low,” Anindya Ghose, a professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business said. “We’re starting to see a lot of those traditional retailers go into that transition themselves,” said Tiffany Hogan, senior analyst, US apparel at Kantar Retail. “There really isn’t a department store that’s not focusing on digital, so I would say there has to be more to the story than getting a good leader.”“The most prominent example of this is Walmart buying Jet.com,” said Brendan Witcher, principal analyst at Forrester Research. “That was a smart move… leveraging that expertise.” [Source: NBC News
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