Crime Report: Woman Arrested on Retail Fraud Charges; Backflow Valves Stolen

Women Arrested on Retail Fraud Charges

A woman from Ohio was arrested at 3:30 p.m. Thursday on a charge of third-degree retail fraud at 12 Oaks Mall. Two Sephora employees said they saw her take a bottle of Coach perfume, lift her skirt and hide it between her legs, according to a report. When the woman left the store, the employees reported it to mall security, who called police. Security watched as the woman and three other people left, drove around the mall and parked again, the police report said.

According to the report, police inspected the car, which belonged to one of the woman’s companions, and found more than 120 items worth a total of $2,480.

Wire cutters were also found in the car, the report said.

The arrested woman said she had not stolen everything and that she and another person had bought the stolen merchandise from someone for $100, the report said. She said she intended to return the merchandise and keep the money, but she said they became afraid and didn’t return the other items, the police report said.

The report also said that just $152 of the merchandise could be positively identified as being stolen by the woman. The woman had no prior charges, but the police report states that due to the large amount of recovered stolen property, she may be part of a shoplifting ring working in the area.

Backflow Valves Stolen

Two brass backflow valves and copper wiring, valued at a total of $1,500, were reported stolen from a vacant business building on Peary Court. The property was stolen between 7 a.m. June 25 and 6 a.m. June 27, according to a police report.

In a separate incident, a brass backflow valve worth about $500 was stolen from a vacant business on Hudson Drive, also between 7 a.m. June 25 and 6 a.m. June 27, according to a police report. This was the second time a valve was stolen from the building, the report said.

Personal Property Stolen

A man reported that approximately $400 worth of goods were stolen from his car between 10 a.m. June 28 and 8 a.m. June 29. A DVD player, which was attached to the back headrest of the driver’s seat, and two controllers for the player were stolen from his unlocked car in his driveway on Hillside Drive, according to a police report.

A man reported that his golf bag and clubs were stolen from his vehicle at his home at Dunnabeck Court between 4 p.m. June 27 and 7:40 a.m. June 28. The man said he noticed in the morning that his vehicle's dome light was on but did not discover his missing belongings until he went to golf that afternoon, according to the police report. More than $1,100 in property was stolen, the report said.

A pool heater was stolen between 12:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. June 29 from a house on Valley Starr Road near Oak Tree, a police report said. The wires were removed using proper tools, and the gas was shut off, according to the police report.

A man reported that his cellphone and camera were stolen from his locked vehicle on Argyle Street sometime during the night of June 26, according to a police report. His wallet and checkbook were left in the car, the report said.

Business Damaged

Damage was done to the carpet and walls of a the first floor of the Atrium business building on Main Street when someone blocked the sinks and left the water running on the second floor between 10:45 p.m. June 25 and 12:45 a.m. June 26, according to a police report. Both Real Estate One and 29 Park nightclub, which are located in the building, reported water dripping, according to report. The sinks overflowed and water dripped to the first floor, the report said. The water caused several hundreds if not thousands of dollars in damage, the report said.

Six Arrested on Intoxication Charges

Three men and three women were arrested on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated from June 24-30. All of the people were first stopped for traffic violations and were arrested between 10 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. One of the women was also arrested for having an open container of alcohol in the car.

If you have questions about this blotter, contact Editor Rebecca Jaskot at rebecca.jaskot@patch.com.