2 Members Of Organized Retail Theft Group Arrested In Greenwich: PD

GREENWICH, CT — Two people were arrested this week after police say they used "booster bags" to steal $4,000 worth of merchandise from a Greenwich Avenue business.

Angie Rodriguez, 37, of Elizabeth, N.J., and Kevin Rodriguez, 33, of College Point, N.Y., in Queens face larceny, conspiracy and organized retail theft charges, according to their arrest reports.

On Oct. 24 shortly before 1:30 p.m., plainclothes officers in the central Greenwich business district "observed individuals exhibiting suspicious activity at a local retailer."

Police did not specifically mention the retailer, but the address of the incident is 151 Greenwich Ave., Lt. Patrick Smyth of the Greenwich Police Department said.

"Further surveillance of the individuals revealed that they concealed merchandise within a foil-lined bag (booster bag) and engaged in an effort to do so by staging items, distracting employees, acting as lookouts, and using their bodies to obstruct their actions," police said in arrest reports.

Officers detained two people who were identified as Angie Rodriguez and Kevin Rodriguez, police said.

"The investigation revealed that the arrestee and his co-conspirators are part of an organized retail theft group, arrived in Greenwich in a vehicle bearing a misuse registration and entered a retail store with a booster bag to commit a larceny by shoplifting for over $4,000," police added.

Upon being detained, Kevin Rodriguez gave police a false name and signed his state notice of right with a false name, police said. He was charged additionally with interfering with officers/resisting.

Angie Rodriguez was unable to post a $50,000 bond, and Kevin Rodriguez could not post a $100,000 bond, police said.

Both arrestees are scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Nov. 8.