STUART — Police are seeking assistance in identifying two people suspected of trying to steal and then fraudulently return computer equipment from a Walmart Supercenter, a news release states.

The Dec. 5 incident happened about 10:45 p.m. at the retail giant in the 4000 block of Southeast U.S. 1. (more…)

PORT ST. LUCIE — Sleep has been hard to come by ever since someone broke into what Gayle Crothers considers her sanctuary.

She pulled into her driveway Monday afternoon and noticed a strange car backed up to her house. “I came in the front door and there was a man standing here, or actually two men, but behind the door there was a third one I did not see,” says Crothers.

The men pushed Crothers down and took off, leaving with her Ipod, a laptop and several remotes. (more…)

PORT ST. LUCIE — Air-conditioning units were stolen early Sunday morning from at least four nearby businesses on Southeast Lennard Road, according to recently released St. Lucie County Sheriff’s records.

The businesses are in the 10200 block of Southeast Lennard Road, east of U.S. 1 near Southeast Mariposa Avenue. They were identified as Express Food Mart, Duke of Oil, Design A Sign and Uptown Motors.
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Thieves shoplifted almost $29,000 in bras and panties from two Victoria’s Secret stores on the Treasure Coast this year.

Most of the amount was stolen in just a handful of incidents, including a grab of more than $12,000 in merchandise from the Indian River Mall store on Nov. 30. And in February, the location at the Treasure Coast Square mall in Jensen Beach had more than $5,200 worth of merchandise stolen, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

“It’s probably the work of professional thieves,” said Chris McGoey, a Los Angeles-based retail theft expert. “Victoria’s Secret isn’t exclusively being targeted, but you probably have a team of thieves who travel from state to state and they’ve targeted Victoria’s Secret because they know how the stores are staffed.”

The law enforcement reports on the crimes expose why thieves may be slipping out of the stores. Employees at both Treasure Coast locations told deputies there are no cameras set up in the stores. Last month following the incident at the Indian River Mall, employees said there are parts of the store that aren’t visible from the checkout counter.
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