April 29, 2005 Update
Fraudulent Check arrest, Marshal Fields, 500 W. 14 Mile, 4/23
A 26-year-old female from Detroit who passed a counterfeit check last week was observed in the store on 4/23. Investigation by Loss Prevention Officers determined she passed another check in the shoe department earlier that day. They watched as she passed a second in the Mens Department and was arrested. The checks contained fraudulent account numbers and were written for $228.96 and $306.98 respectively.
Retail Fraud Arrest, JC Penney, 700 W. 14 Mile, 4/22
A 30 year old female from Rochester Hills was arrested after stealing $114.99 worth of merchandise. Her 4-year-old daughter who was in her company was TOT her husband who was called to the scene.
Retail Fraud Arrest, JC Penney, 700 W. 14 Mile, 4/23
Officers responded to a call from Loss Prevention Officers that a retail fraud suspect had fled and was attempting to escape in a GEO Metro. Officer located and stopped the vehicle in lot occupied by suspect. The 31-year-old female from Highland Park was arrested for stealing $94.00 worth of fashion jewelry.
Embezzlement Investigation, Comp USA, 637 John R, 1/27-4/25
An employee is suspected of stealing merchandise, then selling it on EBAY. Total value approximately $6330.00. Investigation continues.
Embezzlement Arrest, JC Penny, 700 W, 14 Mile, 4/25
A 48-year-old female (temporary employee) from Detroit was arrested for stealing a $34.00 watch.
Retail Fraud Arrests, Neiman Marcus, 2705 W. Big Beaver, 4/23
Two18 year old females from Ypsilanti were arrested after stealing $1253.00 worth of merchandise.
Retail Fraud Arrest, Nordstrom, 2850 W. Big Beaver, 4/23
LPOs recognized the 17-year-old male from West Bloomfield in store as a suspect in a prior theft. He was watched and arrested after stealing a $49.50 pair of shorts today.
Check Fraud Investigation, Neiman Marcus, 2705 W. Big Beaver, 3/2-3/15
A male subject made two purchases with checks for $1266.70 and $950.00 respectively on 3/2/05. The $950.00 purchase was for a ring. Follow-up with the bank after transactions revealed the account did not have sufficient funds; had a negative balance since 2/15/05, and was marked as a possible identity fraud victim account. On 3/3/05, a subject who had been seen in the company of the original check writer when the ring was purchased attempted to return it for cash. He tried at three different locations in the store and was advised the return could not be processed until the original check cleared. The original suspect/check writer was seen in his company on that date, as well. On 3/8, the subject/refunder attempted to refund the ring again. The ring was taken and he was advised a mail check would be sent to his address. The mail check was sent to the stores bad check expense center. Between 3/10 and 3/15, the store received several calls from an individual inquiring as to the whereabouts of the refund check; during one of the calls, the caller claimed he won the ring at a crap table. Loss Prevention Officers advised him the ring was purchased with a bad check and directed him to call his bank. Investigation continues, as there is evidence of other Non Sufficient Funds checks and possible refunds for cash involving these suspects.
Retail Fraud Arrest, Tommys Island, 2800 W. Big Beaver, 4/25
A 38-year-old male from Pontiac was arrested after stealing a $100.00 shirt. A purse stolen from Nine West was recovered from the suspect and returned to the store.
Larceny & Check Fraud, Lovington, 4/15-4/18
Several personal checks were stolen from the residence at an unknown time. Two were made out to individuals the victim does not know, and cashed by forging his signature for a total of $4659.00. The location where checks were cashed is unknown.
Fraud, Wal-Mart, 2001 W. Maple, 4/23
A customer reported placing a lawn mower in lay-a-way and making $130.00 of the $200.00 worth of payments. When he went in on 4/21 to make the final payment and pick it up, he was advised store records showed the purchase was cancelled on 4/20 and the money refunded. Complainant believes someone fraudulently used his name to close the transaction and obtain the refund.
Retail Fraud Arrest, Wal-Mart, 2001 W. Maple, 4/25, 6:20 pm.
A 46-year-old male from Detroit was arrested for stealing $2793.95 worth of merchandise. He and another male emptied a large box containing a Little Tikes Play Table, filled it with electronic equipment and DVDs, and then resealed it. The suspect went through the cash line and paid for the Table, which was $31.77. When he pushed the cart through the doors, the alarms sounded, he was stopped, and the concealed merchandise discovered inside the box. He stated the other male was his brother, who departed prior to police arrival. Description: W/M, 6, medium build, dark colored ball cap and a white polo shirt. Possibly driving a black Jaguar.
Credit Fraud, Patterson Street
Someone used the victims name and personal information to open an unauthorized phone account billed to an address in Royal Oak which the victim is not familiar with. He discovered the fraud when he reviewed his credit report and observed the account was turned over to a collection agency.
Credit Fraud, Columbia Street
Someone stole a credit card from victims purse and between 4/16 and 4/22 made $2700.00 worth of cash withdrawals from various ATMs in Detroit. She suspects her son, who has engaged in similar behavior in the past.
Retail Fraud, Zales Jewelry, 336 W. 14 Mile, 4/26, 5:55-6:30 pm.
The store reported 4-solitaire diamond rings with a total value of $3599.96 missing from a display case. They were there during morning inventory; and discovered missing during afternoon inventory. Employees reported three suspicious males entered the store together between 5:55pm and6:30 pm. Two engaged one clerk in questions about diamond rings, while the third engaged another clerk about jewelry in another part of the store. The clerk who waited on the two that remained together opened a display case (from which the rings were later discovered missing) to show one of the pair engagement rings. The subject asked to see a wedding band in an adjacent case. The clerk believes he closed and locked the original case before moving to the next case. The individual originally asking about the rings stated he had to go and get more money after looking at a wedding band. He left. The subject who had been with him had already departed. The third subject also left.
Retail Fraud, Marshall Fields, 2750 W. Big Beaver, 4/26, 3:15 pm.
Loss Prevention Officers reported a 22 year old female suspect entered the store, gathered up 13 pair of jeans valued at $2543.00, removed them from hangers, removed the security tags, then stacked them near an exit. She left. Shortly thereafter a 32-year-old male from Detroit entered, placed the jeans in a large Sears shopping bag and exited. When confronted, he dumped the stolen merchandise and fled. His coat came off during the detention attempt. He was identified from paperwork found in his jacket ordering him to court in Dearborn as a defendant on a larceny charge.
Check Fraud, Entech, 363 W. Big Beaver, 4/20-4/26
Someone counterfeited and cashed approximately 9 of the companys checks using the correct routing and account numbers. The checks are written out to individuals for approximately $300.00 each. An ex-employee is suspected. It is unknown where they were cashed. The check numbers are from legitimate checks, however they were all issued in the past.
A resident on Beech reported receiving a call from his bank apparently checking on an individual using complainants name to open a charge account in Florida. The resident advised the bank rep it was a fraud.
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