Richmond, Va. – Special agents of the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) arrested a Richmond City man and a Chesterfield County woman after a month-long shoplifting spree in several ABC Stores throughout the Richmond Metropolitan area.
Demond Jerome Loney, 35, of the 1200 block of Lakeview Ave. in Richmond was charged with 12 counts of grand larceny third offense, and Jennifer Patrice Harrell, 34, of the 100 block of Wenatchee Road in Chesterfield County, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit larceny.
All charges are class 6 felonies, each punishable by imprisonment for one to five years or jail for up to 12 months and a fine of up to $2,500, either or both.
The charges stem from thefts of merchandise totaling $2,252.45 which occurred from January 23 to February 13 at nine ABC stores in Richmond and Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover counties. The suspects stole cognac, tequila, gin and various brands of vodka.
The first shoplifting incidents occurred when the suspects hit Richmond’s Carytown store, a store located at 3100 West Broad St. and a third store in Henrico County at 4302 South Laburnum Ave. in the Laburnum Park Shopping Center.
Subsequent thefts occurred in ABC stores at 6030 Brook Road, 7036 Forest Hill Ave., 618 West Southside Plaza and 6504 Hull Street Road in Richmond; 2610 Buford Road in Chesterfield County and 7057 Mechanicsville Turnpike in Hanover County.
ABC special agents utilized digital video footage from cameras mounted inside and outside the stores in their investigation.
The couple was recorded from various angles in each store.
“Our security system did exactly what it was set up to do,” said Shawn Walker, director of ABC’s bureau of law enforcement. “In addition to the enhanced safety and security provided for our customers and employees by the store camera and security systems, valuable footage has been used in the arrest and conviction of shoplifters.”
Loney and Harrell are being held without bond in the Richmond jail.
