KPD e-News Release: Detectives Searching for Suspects in Elaborate Shoplifting Scheme at Best Buy

	Kingsport Police Department 200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX) http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com
NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT:		Detectives Searching for Suspects in Elaborate Shoplifting Scheme at Best Buy
DATE:		July 24, 2014

GENERAL NARRATIVE

On July 18, 2014 at approximately 5:00 PM, five suspects were involved in an elaborate shoplifting scheme at Best Buy, located at 2716 East Stone Drive in Kingsport. In all, at least 37 items totaling nearly $6,500 were stolen.

Two white male suspects entered the store and proceeded to the headphone and GPS watch section. The items in this section had been secured to the shelving via a small hole in the packaging. The suspects commenced to cut the tops off of the packaging of numerous items to free them from their display rack. The items were then scattered along the bottom shelf of the isle.

The two males then stood watch on either end of the isle as two white female suspects entered the store to rendezvous with the males. The females collected half of the items in large tote bags and headed for the exit.

Meanwhile a third male suspect distracted store employees at the exit, by asking them a question regarding an advertisement, to allow the females to escape undetected. The group committed this conspiracy a second time to collect the other half of the items. The stolen items are detailed in the chart below.

Brand	Description	Color	Value	Quantity	Total Value
Jawbone	Activity Tracker Wristband	Assorted	$150.00	12	$1,800.00
Fitbit	Activity Tracker Belt Clip	Assorted	$100.00	8	$800.00
Garmin	GPS Watch with Heart Rate Monitor	Assorted	$300.00	3	$900.00
Garmin	GPS Watch	Assorted	$130.00	2	$260.00
TomTom	GPS Watch with Heart Rate Monitor	Unknown	$250.00	1	$250.00
Bose	Noise-Cancelling Headphones	Black/Silver	$300.00	4	$1,200.00
Bose	SoundTrue On-Ear Headphones	Black	$180.00	2	$360.00
Bose	SoundTrue On-Ear Headphones	White	$180.00	4	$720.00
Bose	SoundTrue On-Ear Headphones	Black/Teal	$180.00	1	$180.00
Totals				37	$6,470.00

Photos of all five suspects captured on surveillance video as they left the store are included in this release. A video clip has been made available on the K.P.D. YouTube channel via the link below:

http://youtu.be/cAXcp_W__S4

The clarity of the video is not exactly stellar; however, it captures four of the suspects in the act of stealing the merchandise.

Anyone who recognizes any of these individuals is asked to contact the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division at 423-229-9429 or Kingsport Central Dispatch at 423-246-9111.

This was, without a doubt, a well thought out and pre-planned operation conducted by professional thieves. Area retailers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the photos of these suspects and their method of operation and be on the lookout for similar acts at other stores.

Citizens are encouraged to use caution when purchasing items, such as those stolen in this incident, from non-traditional outlets such as Craigslist, Ebay, etc., unless they are dealing with a known, long-time, high-rated seller.

RELEASING OFFICER