Authorities: Ring stole 'millions' from Publix stores across Central Florida

[Tony_FLADEM]

Source: Orlando Sentinel

Suspects old enough to be grandfathers face statewide charges of shoplifting millions of dollars of merchandise from Publix supermarkets across Central Florida -- crimes law enforcement officers said they carried out consistently over the past decade.

Playing on his age, one of them repeatedly duped clerks by hobbling into stores and asking for a motorized shopping cart to navigate the aisles and carry out his goods.

Over the past 10 years, ring members stole razors, vitamins and hygienic items worth to up to $60,000 a week. They hit as many as 60 stores a week, the Brevard County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Law of Enforcement said Tuesday.

Ranging in ages from 53 to 68, the five suspected thieves worked with a 22-year-old accomplice and sold their bounty on eBay and through local flea markets, records show.

An investigation of the ring began in March when the Brevard County Sheriff's Office noticed unusually large numbers of costly toiletries being stolen from a Publix supermarket on Merritt Island.

When investigators met with Publix security officers they learned similar thefts plagued the grocery chain's Central Florida stores.



Read more: www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/orl-bk-alleged-theft-ring-busted-orlando-082509,0,7608853.story

[truthisfreedom]

1. "All spent most of their earnings on drugs and were arrested in the past week, Ivey said."

Why do I get the feeling we're not talking about needed prescription meds?

Somebody should make a movie.

[Downwinder]

2. Working their way through the donut hole?? n/t

[Politicalboi]

3. They kind of did 1979

A movie called Going in Style with Geogre Burns and Art Carney, Lee Strasberg. Very funny movie.

[Demeter]

4. EBay as the Ultimate Fence

That's very creative! I'd never in a million years have thought to do so, probably because I'm morally defective and ethically challenged....

[SergeStorms]

5. I've actually seen these guys at work.........

or, if NOT them, people exactly like them. They also work department stores in malls. A few of them will create a diversion while the others make off with the goods. If they get caught (which is seldom) they plead senility and forgetfulness and usually get away with it. Who wants to send their kindly old grandfather or grandmother to jail, right? Most of these con-men and women are sharp as a tack and know exactly what they're doing.
Criminals grow old too. They hate snow and ice like every other person, and Florida is a magnet for every type of criminal known to man. I'm not sure if they actually needed the money to survive, but some of these guys have long criminal records that date back decades. They use the system and peoples' preconceived notions about old people to their full advantage. Just because there's snow on the roof doesn't mean there isn't a fire in the furnace. ;)

[Ex Lurker]

6. that was a Seinfeld episode. Remember Uncle Leo shoplifting from the bookstore? n/t