Swindler Stole $45K from Harford Businesses: Sheriff

EDGEWOOD, MD — An Edgewood man faces more than 40 theft charges after he allegedly conducted a theft scheme involving pawn shops last year, law enforcement reports.

The investigation began after an individual started bringing new or like-new items to area pawn shops, goods that were later found to have been stolen from local businesses, according to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.

“Detectives gathered a description of the individual and were able to determine, after speaking to local businesses at a Harford County Sheriff’s Office ALERT meeting, he was involved in several shopliftings and shoplifting attempts in Harford County that had been occurring since January 2015,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

Quarterly, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office meets with retailers to discuss issues and crime trends to help increase safety; the initiative is called Harford County Sheriff’s Office Area Law Enforcement Retail Together (ALERT).

Information from ALERT helped investigators to identify the suspect, the sheriff’s office reported.

Tony Eugene Lindsey, 30, of the 600 block of Yorkshire Drive, was accused of stealing from at least 10 businesses between January and October 2015, according to the sheriff’s office.

Despite a warrant charging him with theft in early December, officials said Lindsey kept stealing and pawning items.

“During the course of the investigation, Lindsey continued his theft scheme and victimized several additional Harford County businesses,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “In total, Lindsey stole more than $45,000 worth of merchandise from retailers between January and October 2015, which he then pawned for profit.”

Court records show that Lindsey faces more than 40 theft charges from last year:

• One count of theft between $1,000 and $10,000; Dec. 23, 2015
• One count of theft less than $1,000; Dec. 2, 2015
• One count of theft less than $1,000; Dec. 1, 2015
• Theft and theft scheme from $1,000 to $10,000; Jan. 11–Oct. 13, 2015
• 13 counts of theft (12 thefts less than $1,000 and theft scheme under $10,000); June 10–Oct. 5, 2015
• 10 counts of theft (nine thefts less than $1,000 and theft scheme under $10,000); June 10–Oct. 5, 2015
• One count of theft less than $1,000; June 10–Oct. 5, 2015
• Nine counts of theft (eight for theft less than $1,000 and theft scheme up to $10,000); Sept. 15–Oct. 5, 2015
• Five counts of theft (four thefts less than $1,000 and theft scheme from $1,000 to $10,000); Sept. 16–Oct. 2, 2015
• Theft less than $1,000; Sept. 24, 2015
• Theft less than $1,000; Sept. 21, 2015
• Theft, theft scheme and attempted theft less than $1,000; July 4–Aug. 13, 2015

Photo courtesy of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.