Over $27K Worth Of Merchandise Stolen From Greenwich Avenue Store: Greenwich PD

GREENWICH, CT — Two New York residents were arrested last week after police said they stole $27,915 worth of merchandise from a store on Greenwich Avenue.

On June 18 at approximately 4:24 p.m., officers responded to the central Greenwich business district on a report of a shoplifting incident involving two people and a getaway driver, according to an arrest report.

Police said Sheila Draine-Johnson, 53, of Mount Vernon, N.Y., "was positively identified as having facilitated the larceny through distraction methods, attempting to draw store staff away from her co-conspirator."

Police did not identify the store, but Lt. Martin O'Reilly of the Greenwich Police Department said handbags, glasses and jewelry were taken.

Draine-Johnson fled from the store when police arrived, but she was found nearby and arrested, police said.

A search of Draine-Johnson found drug paraphernalia, police said.

She was charged with first-degree larceny, conspiracy and use of drug paraphernalia, her arrest report said. She was given a $20,000 bond.

A man, later identified as Damon Smith, 49, of Mount Vernon, N.Y., tried to run away from the store, but officers took him into custody after a brief pursuit and recovered the stolen merchandise, police said.

Smith faces the same charges, in addition to organized retail theft of at least $10,000. He was given a $25,000 bond.

A third suspect was able to get away in a blue Honda Civic with Connecticut plates, O'Reilly said.

Smith and Draine-Johnson are scheduled to appear in court July 1.