What are your Loss Prevention Priorities for this year?

June 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (11)The workforce in any retail store has to be aware of the policies and procedures that a company or retail store has to deterred shoplifting, and the steps to take when encountering a shoplifting incident. Your management team has to be the most knowledgeable about what to do and how to proceed during such incidents and the steps necessary to take to make certain the safety of the employees are not jeopardized. Shrinkage due to employee theft is very prevalent in retail and the amount they shoplift surpasses that of the amateur shoplifter, being aware of what is going on in your store can lead to less shrinkage and more profits for your store.

Read more news about shoplifting by following the links below.

Retail loss prevention team priorities for 2014

The challenges facing today’s retail loss prevention teams are increasingly complex and serious, from cyber security to active shooter to workforce training, compliance issues and – unfortunately – even armed gunmen inside stores or shopping malls. And with NRF’s annual Loss Prevention Conference and EXPO coming up in June, we wanted to know what’s top of mind for retail LP professionals. We asked a few of our LP Advisory Council members to weigh in on what their top priorities are for 2014. Three different retailers, three different answers. But in our unofficial small survey, we found one common theme — people.

Retailer Keeps Loss Prevention Low and Customer Satisfaction High with DigitalPersona Fingerprint Solution

DigitalPersona, Inc., a trusted partner for biometric identity verification solutions, today announced that  New Look, a leading China fashion retailer, has selected a Point-of-Sale (POS) system enabled with DigitalPersona® fingerprint technology. After a successful trial at six of the retailer’s stores in February 2014, New Look is set to expand their use of biometrics in 16 of its stores by the end of 2014 — with longer-range plans to equip 100 stores by 2017. The retailer initially selected biometric technology as an alternative to passwords for improving time and attendance accuracy, but found it also enhances loss prevention and customer service.

Stupid Criminal: Doomed robbery

Today’s Stupid Criminals were doomed from the beginning.

You would think if you are going to rob a store, you might want to first look into what that store sells.

Well these Stupid Criminals thought it would be a good idea to rob this store in Dallas, Texas but you see that wasn’t the smartest idea.

Why?

Because what does the store sell? Surveillance cameras of course.

The owner of the security business supply store caught both the criminals on no less than 17 cameras.

Now the robbers did have plenty of warning before they tried to rob the store. There were at least four signs outside the store that told them they were being recorded.

They were able to get away with $10,000 worth of equipment.

No word yet if they’ve been caught.

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Why Employees Steal In Retail Loss Prevention, Atlanta

June 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (2)Over the 30 plus years the thousands of employees I caught during retail loss prevention theft investigations told me the reasons why they stole from their employers. One of the very most common reasons has been something like: “as a favor to help a friend out”. All of us refer to this as peer pressure. What still amazes me to this day is that an employee commits a serious felony that will potentially cause the loss of their freedom and civil penalties to help someone else out.

Many of us loss prevention and security professionals have heard this same reason over and over so many times. Why do they do it? There are several interesting factors. The main one being their age. We hear this a lot from 16 to 22 year olds. I feel this is because they think that fitting in with these so-called “buddies” is more important to them. That thought process is pretty strange to the rest of us until you think back to your own life when you were at that age. You may have started drinking or did something else that you now look back and say, “What in the world was I thinking?” All of this in order to “be friends”.

People in that age bracket also seem to feel like they are immune and they will not get caught. In that situation I always chuckle about the loss prevention investigations I conducted where a younger employee thought that they were the only one that ever thought of void or refund fraud, cash theft or some other retail theft that I had already put 500 people prior to them in jail for.

One retail loss prevention investigation I conducted is a particularly good example. Two 18 year old employees, female and male who had were girlfriend and boyfriend made the decision to steal cash and merchandise in the thousands of dollars. Their belief was that no one knew what they were doing. They thought that they were smarter that the rest of us including the manager.

The manager contacted me to start a loss prevention investigation after she noticed discrepancies in both merchandise and cash. I put the evidence together and it became very clear that it was the girlfriend/boyfriend. During the interviews with each of them I discovered the reason, they were stealing for each other (isn’t love great?) and they didn’t think anyone else would figure it out. They got to spend the next several years on probation paying back the retailer with interest and many hours of community service. They were put into separate community service programs since the Judge thought their love needed a little break.

Your loss prevention program should take these types of reasons into account if you want to keep your merchandise, assets and cash on YOUR bottom line. Make it clear to ALL employees that you will not tolerate any loss or theft. The only thing they are allowed to leave the store with that they did not bring in is the air in their lungs. The rest does not belong to them.

For more information on loss prevention security, retail loss prevention or loss prevention in general please contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

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The Last Four Digits

June 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (10)There have been several well-publicized security breaches lately of some major national retailers. The breaches have been in their credit and debit card payment processing servers. Unknown hackers have been able to extract data that should have been encrypted to prevent unauthorized usage of this credit card data.

Anytime a credit or debit card is used at a cash register, the card machine captures the information on the magnetic strip. From there the information is scrambled about (encrypted) as it is sent to the respective banks to make the actual charge on the payment cards.

It was during the transmission of this encrypted information that hackers were able to capture the actual data, not the encrypted version. This left millions of consumers with compromised credit/ debit card information.

Now that this information is out there, the criminal element has access to it. Many underground websites will offer batches of credit card numbers, expiration dates, and often the verification codes on the backs of the cards. All of this information is sold for the right price.

Once the information is in hand, the criminals can make a new credit card. A typical process is to take a blank credit card and emboss the name (or alias) of the person going to use the card. If a cashier were to check the ID, it would then match.
The stolen information is put onto new magnetic strips, and these strips are put onto the card blank. Since the criminals will use the same card blank with multiple stolen card numbers, a generic credit card number is embossed on the card blank. The magnetic strip is the only thing changed out for each new stolen card number.

Since larger retailers are keeping a more watchful eye out for stolen cards, many criminals are going to smaller business that may not have the same level of security in place, but might carry just as desirable merchandise. To protect your business, the easiest way to verify a legitimate credit card vs. a criminal made stolen card is to verify the last four digits of the card being used.

The actual credit card (the stolen card) information is what your cash register will capture. It is extremely unlikely that the last four digits of the stolen card information will match the last four digits of the credit card number embossed into the card being presented. Any discrepancy in the two numbers should immediately be declined.

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Working On The Ground Level

May 31, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (8)In spite of all of my years of experience in catching shoplifters, I am always worried that they will spot me watching them. It’s not that it would be the worst thing that could possibly happen, mind you. More than likely the shoplifter will discard the merchandise before they make any attempts to walk out the door with it. It prevents the loss of product, which is ultimately what retail theft prevention is about.

What I personally don’t like is feeling like I have wasted all the time watching them, and the potential shoplifter leaves without any recourse. That means that they will probably come back in and make another attempt at stealing from my stores.

I spoke with one of my mentors about the concern and he gave me an interesting piece of advice- Get down on the ground to avoid detection. Now he wasn’t talking about sprawling down on the floor and staying there. He was talking about lowering down to avoid being in the shoplifters line of sight.

A shoplifter is trying to avoid detection at all costs. They are maintaining constant vigilance and eyesight towards anyone that comes within their line of sight. As such, they are focused primarily on the movements that are straight ahead, at their eye level.

A shoplifter is not looking down, to see if someone is kneeling down, spying on them. I have since developed my own trick to watching shoplifters closer up. I kneel down beside a table, or a rounder of clothing. So I don’t look suspicious to the shoplifter, or any other customers, I pretend to be tying my shoe. Even if my shoe doesn’t have actual laces on it, if I am fiddling with my shoe, no one is suspicious, and I am below the shoplifter’s line of sight.

Of all the cases I have watched that I have used this trick, not one shoplifter has known that I was watching them from a few feet away. I still feel like I could be noticed at any time, and I guess that feeling will never go away. I do know that my trick has been proven to work for me in the past, and will stay successful in the future.

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Anti Shoplifting Devices and your ROI

May 30, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (12)If you have a retail store, regardless of the products you choose to sell, there is always the risk of people walking out with merchandise without paying for it. How do you protect yourself from this happening, and how do you stop shrinkage from recurring in a daily basis? The initial investment you make in anti shoplifting devices can protect your business and offer you a ROI and peace of mind at the same time.

Follow the links below for more news about shoplifting.

The Value Of Anti Shoplifting Devices

Merchants everywhere know how theft impacts their annual revenue. Shop owners lose billions in revenue each year because of shoplifters. The financial damage caused by this crime is felt by retailers and the entire economy. To protect their livelihood, merchants need to install anti shoplifting devices and security systems that are reliable. To find the right system, retailers must understand how each system will work for them.

Security and anti theft tools have been designed specifically for the merchant. There are several different gadgets that are available that can include point of sale and audio monitors, video surveillance, inventory monitoring tools, and cameras. An anti shoplifting tool may be a combination of exit sensors and anti theft tags. The tags must be removed the a clerk during check out. If an item is taken through the door with the tag in place it sensor is triggered and an alarm is sounded.

Every shop has specific needs in regard to its security system. The shops requirements for security will be determined by several things. An example is the actual physical layout of the building. Also, the amount of traffic the establishment attracts daily, and the kind of merchandise the sore offers will influence the type of security that is needed. Stores that sell small digital and electronic items are much harder to monitor than those that sell larger merchandise like furniture.

Suffolk Police looking for Walmart shoplifting suspects

Suffolk Police are looking to identify two suspects involved in a shoplifting incident at the Walmart in the 6200 block of College Drive on May 11th at approximately 1:45 p.m.

Police say surveillance cameras show the suspects scanning items at the self-checkout, but they did not scan all of the items. They also returned to the sales floor and placed additional items in their shopping cart without paying.

Both are described as black males in their mid-30s. They were both wearing white t-shirts, and one suspect was further described as bald with a beard and wearing sunglasses, and the second suspect had a short haircut and small mustache.

One of the suspects left the scene on foot while the other left in a white Dodge pickup truck.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Line at 1-888-Lock-U-Up.

Women accused in East Coast shoplifting ring arrested at NC Target

CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — Police said two women who helped swipe hundreds of thousands of dollars in items from stores along the East Coast were finally caught in the Charlotte area.

Police told WSOC-TV that a loss prevention agent at a Target store on Bayfield Parkway saw Shiann Johnson and Destiny Williams preparing to steal items from the store Sunday.

He called police, who surrounded the store.

One woman was caught inside. Officials said the other woman made a run for it and was caught at the Buffalo Wild Wings nearby.

Kannapolis police said the agent in Target was familiar with their method emptying a filing cabinet box, stuffing $6,000 of electronics into it, then paying for the just the cabinet and walking out.

Police said the pair is from Brooklyn, New York, and part of a larger theft ring that has been doing the same thing all along the East Coast stealing from Target and CVS stores.

Police said they got thank you calls from both corporate offices after the arrest and they said the group is accused of stealing $200,000 in total from various stores.

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Shoplifting And Dumb Criminal News

May 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (1)Cigarettes were one of the most sought after items to steal in a store till retails owners and management start keeping them behind the cash registers at the store. Although some people believe shoplifting is a relative unskilled crime and many amateur shoplifters do it, organized shoplifting crime is very prevalent and can cause thousands of dollars in losses to the retail owner in just one day.
Read more of about shoplifting crime by following the links below.

World’s Dumbest Criminal Snaps An Incriminating Masked Selfie Before Robbing A Store 

There have been some pretty dumb criminals in recent history, especially since the dawn of the Internet age, but a Tennessee man may have landed himself at the top of the list.

Kelly’s Stupid Criminals of the week!

Starring this week a Kentucky man who robbed a local market of mostly guns and cigarettes. He took special care to wear a mask and gloves so as not to leave behind any incriminating evidence. He might have gotten away with it too, if only he deleted the selfie on his phone of him WEARING THE MASK. Whoops.

28-year-old Kevin Lawson was arrested last week for breaking into a store and stealing various food items, rifles, handguns, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and knives. A surveillance camera caught Lawson running from the scene of the crime carrying a large duffle bag filled with stolen items and wearing a white ski mask, but based on that video alone, authorities were unable to determine the perpetrator’s identity.

Luckily, Lawson did some pretty stupid things leading up to and after committing the crime, so authorities did eventually apprehend him. According to reports, police were unable to find fingerprints at the store because Lawson had worn gloves, but after finding those gloves thrown into his neighbor’s yard, they were eventually able to take him in for questioning.

Shoplifting getting more brazen, violent

Shoplifting is as prevalent as ever.

It also is becoming more brazen.

Two women stuff their purses full of items from an Old Navy store and shove security officers out of the way as they escape.

Five men rush into Saks Fifth Avenue, snatch dozens of high-end handbags and flee to their getaway car parked just outside the door.

And in an incident that stunned an Eastside neighborhood, a man trying to steal armfuls of items from a clothing store fatally shoots in the head a man who tried to stop him.

What once seemed a petty crime has escalated into either an enterprise by organized criminals or, at worst, a potential flash point for violence.

Or both.

Monroe: Shoplifting Woman Brought Kids Along

Sheriff ’s deputies are looking for a woman who shoplifted more than $300 in clothes, shoes and jewelry from Walmart by stuffing some of the items in her child’s book bag before threatening to assault an employee who confronted her. As the woman fled the store, one of the children fell into a water-filled ditch, reports said. Witnesses told deputies that she cursed the child for falling, then continued toward a grocery store where she disappeared. Deputies believe the woman is a 27-year-old Monroe resident who was identified by a Walmart employee. The suspect has a history of assault, according to police reports.

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Why Teens Shoplift

May 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (13)Shoplifting is so common among teenagers that many people considered it a rite of passage from adolescence to adulthood.  It’s estimated that 80% of teens have shoplifted or been with someone else when they have.  Some experts see it as a normal developmental phase.

While shoplifting can be a sign of a delinquent or “troubled teen”, the majority of teens who do it would not be classified as such.  Contrary to the stereotype most teens who shoplift are not troubled.  The majority of teen shoplifters have poor impulse control and/or decision making skills which are commensurate with their age.

It’s difficult for parents, business owners, security people and teachers to identify teens who are shoplifting because there’s no standard profile; it cuts across age, sex, race and social economic class.  There are many reasons why an adolescent shoplifts, which also makes it difficult to create a representative profile, here are some of them.

  • Rebellion – This teen is “acting out” at someone and/or something.
  • Thrills/Euphoria – Shoplifting can be a dangerous and exciting activity accompanied by a pleasurable physical reaction, a high caused by an adrenaline surge.
  • Peer Pressure – Social group is essential to some teens and if their friends do it then they do it to fit in.
  • Cry For Help – A small number of teens shoplift to get caught.  Consciously or subconsciously they’re hoping to bring attention to a difficult or abusive situation.
  • Sense of Control – Some feel a great deal of stress and anxiety.  Stealing gives them a feeling of control over their environment, which decreases the stress and anxiety.
  • Attention Seeking – This is a way to draw attention to themselves, to be cool.
  • Targeting Specific Merchandise – These teens steal to keep up with current trends (i.e. electronics, clothes, shoes) they can’t afford.
  • Drugs/Alcohol – They may shoplift when high or drunk. Or they steal to support a habit by selling the merchandise.
  • Kleptomania – A psychological disorder in which the person can’t resist the compulsion to steal.  It’s very rare in teens and must be diagnosed and treated by a professional.

Understanding why a teen steals and addressing it is important, it can be a valuable life lesson for most of them.  However, understanding it doesn’t excuse it.  When they get caught consequences should be meted out immediately.

Teens should have no doubt the store, their parents and the legal system all take the behavior very seriously and that the penalties will increase with each offence.  No matter the “why” there will be no sympathy or tolerance for repeat offenders.  The trail from adolescence to adulthood is paved with consequences.

Nicole Abbott – writer, educator and psycho-therapist

 

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How To Prevent Shoplifting In Your Store

May 12, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (8)A policy in place about shoplifting and the steps needed to take when an incident takes place in your store, should be of the utmost importance for your business.  A loss prevention seminar for you and your management team can benefit the bottom line and the success of your store. Awareness and education about shoplifting in your place of business can keep the management team alert and able to react to an incident with more assertiveness and in a timely manner.

Read more the latest news about shoplifting.

Report of shoplifting leads to drug-related arrest

A report of shoplifting led to the discovery of drug paraphernalia and the arrest of a Georgia man, according to a press release from the Hillsboro Police Department.

On Saturday afternoon, police responded to a call from Lowe’s Loss Prevention that a male shoplifter had been apprehended after having “taken a weed eater from the store,” the press release states.

According to Hillsboro Police Chief Todd Whited, when officers arrived, drug paraphernalia was found on the suspect.

“When they encountered him, he was attempting to hide it,” Whited said.

Duane E. Morris, 62, of Mableton, Georgia was arrested for theft and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the press release.

Hillsboro Municipal Court records show Morris was arraigned Monday morning on both charges, a first-degree and fourth-degree misdemeanor respectively.

According to records, Morris pleaded guilty to both charges.

For the first charge of theft, Morris was given reporting probation. Morris is prohibited from having contact with Lowe’s, must obtain counseling, and must observe a 9 p.m. through 6 a.m. curfew until that counseling is completed.

Alleged robber holds knife to officer’s neck

Deputies with the Bibb County Sheriff’s office arrested one man for allegedly shoplifting, holding a knife to a loss prevention officer’s neck, and leading police on a car chase down Eisenhower Parkway.

According to a press release, 32 year old Cameron Stanley Dickerson of Gordon and 30 year old Kelli Melissa Nickels of Gray were shoplifting at the Wal-Mart Super Store on Harrison Road Saturday afternoon. They were approached by a Loss Prevention Officer at the store, that’s when police say Dickerson pulled a knife and held it to the Loss Prevention Officer’s neck.

The officer received a minor cut to his neck, while struggling to get away. Bibb deputies chased Dickerson and arrested him on Eisenhower Parkway near Harrison Road.

Kelli Melissa Nickels was charged with Theft by Shoplifting.

Cameron Stanley Dickerson was charged with Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Obstruction and Criminal Trespass.

Former Amity cop convicted of shoplifting

NORRISTOWN — A former Berks County police officer finds himself on the other side of the law now that he is a convicted shoplifter.

Former Amity Township Police Officer Glenn James Oesterling, 36, has been sentenced in Montgomery County Court to two years’ probation after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of retail theft in connection with a June 2013 incident that occurred at the Upland Square Giant store in West Pottsgrove. Judge William R. Carpenter, who accepted a plea agreement in the case, also ordered Oesterling to complete 36 hours of community service.

Specifically, Oesterling admitted that he stole items valued at $296.35 from the store on June 18. Authorities said Oesterling passed the store checkout area without paying for merchandise he placed into blue, reusable shopping bags in the shopping cart he was pushing.

Oesterling did not offer an explanation for his conduct.

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Is Your Shoplifting Policy Effectual?

May 8, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (10)Shoplifting affects everyone. Although it is common sense and the statistics about shoplifting are there to prove the severity of this crime, many retailers still fail to implement rigorous anti shoplifting policies that deterred the shoplifter from entering their store. Last year Wal-Mart implemented the policy that its employees not stop shoplifters if the items are $25 or less. Although Wal-Mart’s founder Sam Walton believed that shoplifting was one of the biggest enemies of the retail industry, the policy may just demoralize Wal-Mart’s workforce.

Read more about this and other news about shoplifting.

Jameis Winston suspended from Florida State baseball team over alleged crab leg theft

When Oklahoma State faces defending champion Florida State in the Cowboys’ season opener in August, will FSU have its starting quarterback?

Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston has been suspended from the Florida State baseball team after being issued a civil citation Tuesday for allegedly shoplifting crab legs from a Publix grocery store. The citation was first reported by Tomahawk Nation.

The two-sport superstar is currently the closer for the Seminoles’ No. 6-ranked baseball team.

“As a result of his citation last night, we are suspending Jameis Winston from the baseball team,” Seminole baseball coach Mike Martin said in a statement issued by the university. “I am confident he will complete his community service obligation and the situation will be resolved soon.”

“I fully support Coach Martin’s decision and will also make sure that Jameis meets all obligations, which I know he will,” Jimbo Fisher said in the statement.

Shoplifting suspect charged with faking receipt

WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) — A retail theft suspect has been jailed and now faces a new charge after a prosecutor says the Pennsylvania man brought a bogus receipt for the merchandise to his preliminary hearing.

The defense attorney for 34-year-old Adam Arena, of Richeyville, could not immediately be reached Thursday for comment on a new charge of records tampering.

According to the (Washington) Observer-Reporter (http://bit.ly/1hgPBG8 ) Washington County Assistant District Attorney Josh Carroll asked police to arrest Arena after he presented the bogus Wal-Mart receipt Tuesday.

Arena was in court on charges he stole $289 worth of video game and electronics equipment from a store in South Strabane Township on March 19.

Arena presented the receipt — which a store employee said was fake — in attempting to claim he paid for the merchandise.

Shoplifting charges dropped against Muslim woman held in Macy’s detention center for hours

NEW YORK (PIX11) – Juweria Khalid said she was a frequent Macy’s shopper, never missed their popular one day sales and this past October was no different, but little did she know how that day would change her life.

Khalid said after she already purchased a bracelet from the jewelry department, she spotted some earrings she also liked. Since she was already headed to the children’s department to shop for her two-year-old and 10-month-old, Khalid decided to pay for all of her items together on the 7th floor.

With her arms were full of bags from previous purchases, Khalid said she placed the earrings in her purse, fully intending she insists, to pay for her items. That’s when she was stopped by Macy’s loss prevention guards.

“I took out the jewelry and said to them I’m not stealing it. I’m going to buy it on the 7th floor. They never listened to me,” said Khalid.

Khalid was taken to the now infamous detention area of Macy’s, which she described to us as nothing short of a jail with bars. The Muslim woman, who wears a hijab, a Muslim head scarf, was forced to remove it.

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Do You Know The Shoplifter’s Face?

May 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (9)The National Association for Shoplifting prevention states that there are approximately 27 million shoplifters (or 1 in 11 people) in our nation today. More than 10 million people have been caught shoplifting in the last five years. Who are those people you may ask?  There is truly not one stereotype that fits the shoplifting type.  A police officer today was found guilty for shoplifting while having his three kids with him during the incident.  Other shoplifters include: teens, mothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives and even a contender for the California state senate are/or have been found guilty of shoplifting merchandise.

Follow the links below for more information about shoplifting.

Woman, teen arrested in shoplifting spree

FORT WALTON BEACH – A 51-year-old woman, and an 18-year-old boy were arrested for a shoplifting spree at a local department store, lawmen say.

The woman, Eva Anna Layton of Fort Walton Beach, and the boy, Grayson Lance Kasper of Niceville, are accused of going into Kohl’s on Beal Parkway and loading up a shopping cart with 15 swimsuits, three wallets, a bracelet, a necklace, two pairs of sunglasses, and a purse. According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Layton went into the men’s fitting room and came out wearing the purse over her shoulder as if it belonged to her. The purse was allegedly filled with purloined merchandise.

She then went to the service counter where she tried to return two swimsuits and two swimsuit covers she had chosen from the floor.

When she was approached by a deputy, Layton allegedly refused to stop trying to return the items and asked the deputy to finish with her once she’d finished with her return. When the employee took Layton’s purse, Layton reportedly said the purse was hers and demanded the employee leave it alone.

Mary Hayashi’s campaign foe puts shoplifting case front and center

Mary Hayashi brought her campaign for an East Bay/South Bay state Senate seat to bemused sports fans the other night in Oakland, San Francisco and the Peninsula, as well as to her district, when she ran a 30-second TV ad in the middle of the Giants-Padres baseball game.

The upbeat spot, which one Democratic consultant not involved in the race estimated cost north of $50,000, focused on the Castro Valley politician’s support from women, students, minorities and the medical profession.

“Join local teachers, doctors, small business owners and nurses like me,” says a young woman in surgical scrubs. “Vote for Mary Hayashi for state Senate.”

Not surprisingly, the feel-good spot doesn’t mention the elephant in the campaign, which is Hayashi’s 2012 conviction for stealing $2,450 worth of clothes from a Neiman Marcus store in San Francisco.

Not to worry. Democratic Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski of Fremont, who’s running against Hayashi for the seat, has that covered.

In a new website titled, “Mug Shot Mary,” Wieckowski gleefully runs through the entire case, reminding voters that Hayashi was in the Assembly when she was arrested and is slated to remain on probation until 2015.

Just in case anyone thought he was being too subtle, Wieckowski adds that three state senators, including San Francisco’s Leland Yee, have been arrested or convicted of crimes in the past three months, and “now, Mary Hayashi wants to join them in the state Senate.”

Hayashi was arrested on suspicion of felony grand theft, but pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor shoplifting charge. She was fined $180, put on three years’ probation and ordered to stay away from the Union Square store.

Highlands husband, wife accused of shoplifting

AVON PARK — At least for one married couple, the appropriate vow may have been till jail do we part.

The couple was arrested after being accused of attempting to shoplift nearly $1,000 of merchandise from the Wal-Mart in Avon Park.

Jennifer L. Barton, 29, and John Barton, 32, 714 Ruth St., were arrested by the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and charged with retail theft in coordination with others.

A security guard reported he saw the couple load a shopping cart with electronics items, the report said.

As the couple headed toward the front of the store, John Barton told Jennifer Barton to “go,” and she headed out the store without purchasing the items, the report said.

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