Ohio women charged in Tanger thefts
Two Ohio woman and a 17-year-old girl were arrested by South Strabane Township police Friday afternoon on charges including retail theft after they allegedly stole items from a store in Tanger Outlets.
Ebony N. Thompson, 24, and Chanel Marie Henry, 28, both of Columbus, Ohio, and the girl, who also is from Columbus, were arrested after they allegedly stole several items from the Polo Ralph Lauren store.
A store manager told police the two women got into a silver Chrysler sedan with Ohio license plates.
Police spotted a car matching the description parked in the lot. Sgt. Drew Hilk stayed with the vehicle while Officer Jordan Faust searched for the suspects.
The store manager told Faust several women were in the store together. She said some would act as lookouts and block the view of one of their accomplices from the store clerk as they put merchandise in bags. The teen was taken into custody as she walked across a parking lot. The two others were taken into custody after they were found sitting on a bench.
Henry initially gave police a different name and told officers she was 16, but she gave officers a birth date that would have made her 24. Police said she later admitted to providing a false name because she believed she had warrants for her arrest.
Police said they found the merchandise reportedly stolen from the Ralph Lauren store in the trunk of Thompson’s car. The merchandise was valued at almost $1,500. Police also found the two women with bags of merchandise stolen from three other stores.
Two of the stores declined to prosecute, while the manager of a third said she had to talk with a supervisor.
All three are charged with retail theft and conspiracy. Thompson also is charged with possession of heroin, and Henry is charged with possessing instruments of a crime and false identification to police. Henry and Thompson were arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger and placed in Washington County Jail on $5,000 bonds. The teen will be charged in a juvenile allegation.
Township police also filed theft-related charges Friday against several people accused of stealing items from businesses in the shopping areas off Route 19 (Washington Road). All the charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jay Weller.
Lori A. Whetsell, 41, of 22 Kefover Road, Marianna, was charged with retail theft and possession of paraphernalia stemming from the alleged theft of plumbing items from Lowe’s, Strabane Square, on Sept. 21.
Nicholas L. Novotny, 27, of 221 Beallsville Road, Bentleyville, was charged with theft by deception and retail theft for allegedly making a fraudulent return of stolen items to Walmart, Trinity Point, on Oct. 12.
Dedria Marie Willard, 21, of 6 Gayle Drive, Washington, was charged with retail theft for allegedly stealing $218 in items from Kohl’s, Strabane Square, on Oct. 28.
Sarah Lynn Severns, 24, of 139 Karmann Road, Canonsburg, and Thomas Cox, 32, of 256 Shirls Ave., Washington, were charged in connection with the Oct. 26 theft of items from Hobby Lobby, Old Mill. Severns is charged with retail theft for allegedly stealing 28 craft items valued at $465, while Cox is charged with theft by deception for allegedly returning 12 of those items in exchange for a $120 gift card.