Suspected Target Shoplifter Caught On Camera, Then Caught By The Cops
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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A robbery suspect was caught on camera stocking up on electronics at a Target and then walking out the door without paying for any of it.
But thanks to the actions of a quick-thinking employee, she was taken into custody within the hour.
Security cameras captured 25-year-old Jasmine McCartney walking into the Target store on S Federal Highway in Deerfield Beach around 8 a.m.
McCartney then filled a shopping cart with more than $2,000 in electronics including computer kits, televisions and Wi-Fi routers.
She then reportedly skipped the check out line, walked out of the store with the cart and went to a waiting gray Nissan.
One of the store's loss prevention workers recognized McCartney as a repeat-offender and contacted a Broward sheriff's deputy.
"What we learned in our investigation is that she is known to Target employes as a notorious thief," said sheriff's spokeswoman Joy Oglesby.
Oglesby told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "Target employes have had several encounters with her. She was a very blatant thief. She clearly has no regard for peoples' belongings or the fact that she was stealing. She knew that she was stealing and that was her intent. She just walks out of the store as if it is normal."
"What happens in this store is that this woman walks in and she is nonchalant," said Oglesby. "She goes to the electronics section and starts loading up her shopping cart and once she has all the items she wants she just walks right out. She is even seen on the video talking to a target Employe."
McCartney left Deerfield Beach and ended up in Pompano Beach.
"Our Community Outreach Response and Enforcement Team noticed that her car has a stolen tag on it. They attempted to do a traffic stop, she decides to flee, and she goes into another neighborhood and runs into a home. At that point our deputies were able to get her into custody without further incident," said Oglesby.
McCartney's passenger, Tiffany Sharpe, 26, also ran only to be caught a short time later by deputies.
"What's remarkable about this case is the swift action of deputies," said Oglesby. "It's fantastic work and swift action by the BSO deputies both in Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach. They were keen eyed in Pompano Beach to see how this car fit in and they learned it was stolen and there was swift action in Deerfield Beach to report and process all thid and they had her arrested within an hour. They took her into custody without further incident."
Inside the vehicle, deputies reportedly found the stolen goods along with drugs.
McCartney, who had two warrants for previous robberies, faces a litany of new charges including theft, fleeing from deputies and possessing illegal drugs. Sharpe faces five charges including trespassing in a conveyance and resisting an officer.
McCartney and Sharpe both came before a Judge in bond court on Wednesday afternoon.
McCartney's bond had been set at $20,750 after a total of 13 counts were filed against her. She faces 2 counts of grand theft, 1 count of grand theft auto, two counts of petty theft as well as other counts involving robbery, battery, fleeing and eluding, possessing illegal drugs and driving with an expired license.