APD Busts Suspects in Organized Retail Theft from Local Store
By: APD Press Release
Updated: February 8, 2013
In January 2013, Abilene Police Department (APD) detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division got a tip about two male subjects that were pawning potentially stolen ammunition.
The investigation led detectives to the subjects at a local pawn shop. One subject was inside the pawn store and had several brand-new boxes of ammunition he was trying to sell. Both subjects were contacted by detectives and agreed to be interviewed.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the ammunition these two subjects conspired to pawn was indeed stolen and that both of them were aware and complicit in the furtherance of the theft. Detectives learned that the ammunition had been stolen from a business located in the 3900 block of John Knox Drive (Acadamy Sports). Representatives of the victimized store assisted detectives in the investigation which led detectives to other potential suspects.
Detectives would eventually contact five male suspects and they learned that these five men were connected to a larger organized scheme to steal retail ammunition from the local sporting goods store.
The partnership established with the pawn shops during this investigation was helpful and gave detectives valuable insight to the suspect's activities, including the four occasions when stolen ammunition was sold. All five suspects were determined to have been involved by conducting, promoting or facilitating these activities, but only three suspects actually went to the pawn shops to sell the stolen merchandise. The investigation further identified that three of the suspects were employees that had committed the internal theft of ammunition on several occasions.
Approximately $3,466 in stolen ammunition was recovered during the course of this lengthy investigation. The quantity of ammunition numbered 6,650 rounds in various calibers.
This case will be presented to the Taylor County District Attorney's office for consideration of charges for the offense of felony Organized Retail Theft.
The investigation led detectives to the subjects at a local pawn shop. One subject was inside the pawn store and had several brand-new boxes of ammunition he was trying to sell. Both subjects were contacted by detectives and agreed to be interviewed.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the ammunition these two subjects conspired to pawn was indeed stolen and that both of them were aware and complicit in the furtherance of the theft. Detectives learned that the ammunition had been stolen from a business located in the 3900 block of John Knox Drive (Acadamy Sports). Representatives of the victimized store assisted detectives in the investigation which led detectives to other potential suspects.
Detectives would eventually contact five male suspects and they learned that these five men were connected to a larger organized scheme to steal retail ammunition from the local sporting goods store.
The partnership established with the pawn shops during this investigation was helpful and gave detectives valuable insight to the suspect's activities, including the four occasions when stolen ammunition was sold. All five suspects were determined to have been involved by conducting, promoting or facilitating these activities, but only three suspects actually went to the pawn shops to sell the stolen merchandise. The investigation further identified that three of the suspects were employees that had committed the internal theft of ammunition on several occasions.
Approximately $3,466 in stolen ammunition was recovered during the course of this lengthy investigation. The quantity of ammunition numbered 6,650 rounds in various calibers.
This case will be presented to the Taylor County District Attorney's office for consideration of charges for the offense of felony Organized Retail Theft.
