Texas lawmakers vow zero tolerance for looters after thefts reported in Harvey’s aftermath
As Houston grapples with the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, Texas lawmakers are vowing to be tough on anyone caught looting after the city’s police chief reported some thefts and armed robberies. “We’ve already arrested a handful of looters,” said Houston police Chief Art Acevedo in an interview with Good Morning America. “We’ve made it real clear to our community we’re going to do whatever it takes to protect their homes and their businesses.” The chief said that his officers on Monday apprehended three looters at a Game Stop video game store, as well as some armed robbers he said accosted residents. There have also been reports that an Apple store was damaged by gunfire. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez also admonished people bent on trying to take advantage of the disenfranchised to think twice. “To the crooks out there, be warned,” Gonzalez said in a Tweet. “No looting & burglaries. We will not have it. My jail is open and you will be arrested and charged,” he wrote.
In neighboring Montgomery County, the District Attorney’s Office forcefully stated that it would have zero tolerance for anyone charged with looting and similar crimes committed during the disaster and that his office will seek mandatory jail or prison time for every offender. “Leniency and probation will be off the table for these offenses committed during this time,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon in a Facebook post. According to his office, Texas law allows harsher punishment for offenses committed during a natural disaster. Houston Chief Acevedo also said that he would seek prosecution to the fullest extent of the law for those trying to victimize the already traumatized residents of the hard-hit region. “This is the state of Texas. We are a welcoming city, but we are not going to tolerate people victimizing others,” he said. [Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune]
Alleged shoplifter leaves her child behind while running from LP [Video]
A Mobile, Alabama, woman, who left her child behind after allegedly stealing a pair of shoes, has been arrested. She was caught about three days after the incident. Surveillance video caught 24-year-old Debrina Scott sprinting out of the store, as her son and security officers ran after her. It happened on Saturday afternoon at the Shoe Station. Cameras inside the Shoe Station caught the alleged shoplifter choosing shoes over her son. In the video, employees say Debrina Scott bolts out the door with a stolen pair of shoes in hand. Her young son, runs after her, now caught in the mix. A loss prevention associate almost knocks the boy over. He scoops up the child, and tries to catch up to Scott…but never does. A witness said once the woman ran out of the store, LP chased her through the parking lot. Police say Scott then jumped in a car without her child. During the chase, police say the boy was almost hit by a car in that busy parking lot. We’re told the 24-year-old never looked back to check for her son before making her getaway. Scott was arrested Tuesday after a warrant was issued for her arrest. Jail records show she was just behind bars less than a month ago. According to Mobile Police, her mother, Angela Scott, was arrested at the scene on Saturday, after she failed to obey police. We’re told Scott’s mother showed up to take the child, but ended up in handcuffs. DHR took custody of the child the day of the incident. Mobile Police have not said where the child is now. Debrina Scott spent the night in jail and was released on Wednesday. She’s charged with theft and endangering the welfare of a child. [Source: Fox10 News]
Shoplifting suspect said she made a “bad decision”
Two women are facing drug charges after a shoplifting complaint at a Dollar General in Louisiana. According to an arrest affidavit for Tracie Bearden, 39, deputies were dispatched to the Dollar General store and saw Bearden stretching her shirt forward and placing her hands near a shelf as they approached her. Bearden told deputies she did not arrive at the business with the intention of removing items and made “a bad decision.” She said she was concealing items on her person until she discarded them as deputies arrived at the business. During a search of Bearden’s vehicle, deputies located several small empty baggies, one Xanax, 23 Klonopin, drug paraphernalia and a small, clear bag containing “copious amounts” of crystal methamphetamine. Bearden was booked into Ouachita Correctional Center on charges of theft, possession of a schedule II controlled dangerous substance, possession of a schedule IV controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and possession of a schedule IV controlled dangerous substance. Bond was set at $31,000.
A second woman at the location, Kelly Crum, 38, Rayville, was also taken into custody after deputies reportedly found controlled dangerous substances in her possession while responding to the complaint. A search of Crum’s handbag revealed a blue pouch containing meth, marijuana and Klonopin. Crum told officers she did not know how the CDS arrived inside her handbag. Crum was transported to Ouachita Correctional Center and booked on charges of possession of a schedule II controlled dangerous substance, possession of a schedule IV controlled dangerous substance and possession of a schedule I controlled dangerous substance, first offense. Bond was set at $6,750. [Source: TheNewsStar]
Good Samaritans stop woman from snatching 90-year-old’s purse [Video]
A group of good Samaritans stopped a woman who is now charged with snatching a 90-year-old woman’s purse. The incident happened at the Piggly Wiggly located on Durand Avenue in Racine, Wisconsin. Video posted online shows it was a group effort. People from all walks of life came together quickly when they realized someone just stole the elderly woman’s purse. The video has spread quickly on social media. Jamill Lacy says when she watched the video he immediately recognized something. “I was like ‘baby, that’s Pucci’s truck,'” said Jamill Lacy, knows good Samaritans. “I was sitting in my vehicle in the parking lot just nibbling on something before I went back to work,” said William Pucci, who parked his truck in front of the alleged purse thief’s car. Pucci, known to most as a barber and commissioner of Racine County Prep Football, says he heard a scream and saw a lady running. “I remember my first thought was, ‘oh some poor child got away from a mother,'” said Pucci. It actually was the sound of a witness, one of the shoppers who saw the alleged thief, 27-year-old Lacy Lanciloti, take the woman’s purse. According to court records, Lanciloti offered to help the woman unload her groceries. The victim refused the offer but Lanciloti still went to hug the elderly woman. As she let go of the embrace, the 27-year-old snatched the victim’s purse. Other shoppers nearby heard the elderly woman’s calls for help and saw Lanciloti running across the parking lot. One woman grabbed Lanciloti’s car door while Pucci came in from the passenger side and grabbed her keys out of the ignition.
“I remember her scratching and clawing at me a few times and I wouldn’t have been able to tell you that I said this until I saw the video myself, but I said ‘if you touch me again, I’m gonna smack ya,'” said Pucci. Pucci never hit the alleged thief but another woman did. Eventually, the police came and arrested Lanciloti. Even those who weren’t there say it’s something they can be proud of. “I like how this shows that all people from all walks of life can come together in a situation, a crisis, and figure it out,” Lacy said. Pucci he said he just hopes there will be a day when the actions of his fellow citizens are not considered special. “I’d like to know there’s gonna be a time soon when something like this isn’t at all newsworthy,” Pucci said, “I’d like this to be common practice- people doing the right thing at all times.” Police say when they arrested Lanciloti, she had two credit cards in her purse that weren’t hers. She’s been charged with one count of robbery with use of force, crime against an elderly or disabled person — and retail theft. She’s currently in jail with bond set at $10,000. [Source: Fox6 News]
Two charged in Detroit pawn shop bust headed to circuit court
Two people charged in a Detroit, Michigan, pawn shop bust caught with over $300,000 worth of stolen goods are headed to circuit court. Commerce Township resident Gasswan Usama Gargis, 38, is charged with one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, seven counts of organized retail crime, and six counts of receiving and concealing stolen property over $1,000, and two misdemeanor charge. Orchard Lake resident Trisha-Lynette Viado Razon, 20, is charged with five counts of organized retail crime, two counts of receiving and concealing stolen property over $1,000, and two misdemeanor charges. Both defendants waived their right to a preliminary exam, which is a hearing to determine if there is probable cause to continue with a case.
In June, Canton police recovered $300,000 worth of stolen items from iPawn Shop in Detroit, as well as Gargis’ Commerce Township home. Some the items included power tools, generators, kitchen appliances and high-end electronics. Police say thieves stole hundreds if not thousands of items from different retailers from the suburbs and brought them to Detroit to be sold. Judge Kenneth J. King of Detroit’s 36th District Court set both defendants bond at $5,000. Their next hearing is scheduled for September, 12. [Source: Fox2 News]
Two arrested for robbery after macing employee during shoplifting
A couple accused of spraying a Dillon’s employee in Kansas with pepper spray during a June shoplifting incident have been arrested on charges of aggravated robbery. Skyler Allen Seals, 27, and Stacey Marbut McZegle, 30, were both booked into the Reno County jail Sunday evening. Their bonds were set at $25,000 each. The incident happened at the Dillon’s Marketplace. “The couple was going through the self-check lane when the store employee, who suffers from cerebral palsy, smiled and waved at them. “He didn’t make a move toward them,” Lt. Marty Robertson, detective division commander, previously reported. “He wasn’t trying to stop or apprehend them. He was just being friendly.”
Store cameras captured the male suspect spraying the employee in the face with pepper spray as the couple fled the store. They then loaded a basket of stolen property in the back seat of a white SUV in the parking lot before leaving the scene. The merchandise was worth more than $700, according to police. Numerous people identified the couple within days from photos posted on the department’s Facebook page, Robertson said. Police attempted to locate them for a couple of weeks, and then turned the case over to prosecutors when they could not be found. The couple, identified by investigators as a boyfriend and girlfriend, were arrested in Burlington on the outstanding warrants. Rather than a misdemeanor shoplifting, conviction carries from 31 to 136 months in prison. [Source: The Hutchinson News]
Convenience store manager fires gun after shoplifting incident
An Indianapolis, Indiana, convenience store manager is under investigation for firing his gun at a shoplifter. It happened at Sam’s Food Mart & Tobacco Store. The clerk said the shooting happened after his co-worker chased a customer through the front door and into the parking lot. The shoplifter left with a couple of items without paying for them. Someone flagged down an IMPD officer to report the incident. Reports say the shoplifter stole a bag of Planters peanuts and a package of Hostess Zingers. The clerk working Tuesday morning said theft is an ongoing problem at the store. They’ve taken several steps to try to prevent it but have had little success. People who shop at the store on a regular basis also shared it’s something that happens every day. “Some kids just don’t have food to eat so they just go in there and take what they want.” Karey Spence said. “It’s not right but they do.” The manager reportedly discharged a warning shot into the ground to scare the shoplifter. No one was injured by the scare tactic and the shoplifter fled the scene.
The store has both interior and exterior security cameras. There’s no word on whether the store manager has turned over video of the incident to police. The manager reportedly started carrying a gun after a March 2017 break-in which was caught on camera. In the middle of the night while the store was closed, security cameras recorded a man who used bolt cutters on their front door security gate. Once inside the man filled a bag with cash and merchandise. Clerks at the store work behind a secured cashier’s cage, but theft suspects take merchandise and run out the door without paying. The store manager has installed a chime on the door that sounds both inside and outside the store each time the door opens. Customers like Erica Leatherbury believe the shooting is about more than just pastries and peanuts. “Shoot over no peanuts, I don’t think so”, said Leatherbury. “So he is probably tired of this neighborhood, really. Look what you have all around you, you get thieves all the time.” During their initial investigation into the gunfire, police did not arrest the clerk but they did confiscate his handgun, a holster, one spent round and 15 unspent bullets as well.Spence, a regular customer, said she wasn’t surprised about the shooting. She has witnessed people coming in the store and leaving without paying for food items. She is glad no one got hurt in the gunfire but she empathizes with both the store employees and people who resort to stealing. “At least he didn’t shoot him, just a warning shot,” she said. [Source: WTHR13 News]
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