More Arrests Expected in Shoplifting Ring Investigation

The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office expects more arrests in the alleged shoplifting ring busted Wednesday.

Dozens of boxes of merchandise worth more than $100,000, most of it pet supplies, was confiscated from Mr. Flaps Pawn Shop and a Summerville home.

Felicia Sanders Smith, 44, of 558 Butternut Road in Summerville, has been charged with receiving and possession of stolen goods valued at $10,000 or more.

“It’s believed that Ms. Smith gave a list of items she wanted shoplifted to a group of individuals,” said Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Dan Moon.

Stolen items Items were then allegedly sold in the Goose Creek Boulevard pawn shop or online. Officers would not identify the eBay account used in the web sales, but noted it was being shut down.

Smith was a family member of the pawn store owners, said Moon. No one else at the pawn shop has been charged and the store reopened Thursday morning. A store employee said the owners would not have a comment on the investigation.

Six more suspects, believed to have been the shoplifters, have been identified and are being sought in the investigation, Moon said. Their names will be made available as formal charges are filed and arrests are made.

According to authorities, the investigation began in January following arrests in a Mt. Pleasant shoplifting incident. Information from that investigation led to the Goose Creek pawn shop. Moon also said an unnamed informant was key in the investigation.

The items believed to have been stolen included flea and tick medicine and similar pet products that were unusual finds at a pawn shop. Most of the items confiscated in the store Wednesday were still in the original packaging.