Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Columbia Couple Apprehended In Connection With Numerous Instances Of Shoplifting
Lawrenceburg Now
A Columbia couple staying in Lawrenceburg has been taken into police custody in connection with numerous instances of shoplifting and theft that occurred locally and at stores in Florence, Alabama.
Department reports show that Lawrenceburg Police officers were dispatched regarding a shoplifter inside of the North Locust Avenue Dollar General Store. Employees reported that he had brought a stolen coffee pot in, seeking a refund. Officers encountered the alleged shoplifter in the parking lot and noticed that there was a large amount of merchandise stacked up to the ceiling inside his car.
The man, identified as fifty-five year old Douglas Lynn Mitchell of 1689 North Main Street, Columbia, was transported to the police station for questioning. While at first he insisted that his girlfriend had left him at the store and went shopping with a friend, he later admitted that she was at Parkview Motel.
The girlfriend, forty-seven year old Sandy Jean Ray, also of 1689 North Main Street, Columbia, was picked up and brought in for questioning, as well. The couple told officers that they had been in Lawrenceburg for around a week and had been living out of their car, until getting a motel room the previous night.
Officers report that the couple had been going into various businesses, stealing items, then later returning them to obtain refunds in the form of gift cards. Ray said that she “would usually be the one to steal items and would then send Mitchell back in to receive gift cards for returned items.” Both admitted that they had “obtained” items from that particular Dollar General Store at least twice, but that they had been to other store locations in this area, as well.
Officers report that they were able to obtain surveillance video showing Mitchell returning stolen items to the local Walmart store, seeking a refund.
The couple’s car was towed to the city’s impound lot to be inventoried. Several gift cards were recovered, including two from Dollar General, two from Walmart, one from Kroger, and two from Auto Zone.
Reports show that a total of 150 items of merchandise belonging to Dollar General Store were found, then later released to the business. Thirty items from Walmart were documented and returned to loss prevention personnel. Officers also identified items that had come from Burkes Outlet, Freds, CVS, and Rite Aid in Lawrenceburg. In addition, they recovered items from two stores in Florence. A tent was located that had been taken from Kmart and around twenty items from JC Penny. Several items recovered were from an unknown origin. Altogether, the value of the recovered property is estimated to be around $2,000.
Both Mitchell and Ray were transported to the Lawrence County Detention Center where they were booked under three counts apiece of theft. Investigators note that the three charges stem from the crimes at Dollar General and Walmart. Additional charges may be forthcoming. In addition, they indicate that they will be conferring with law enforcement officials in Florence and the pair may face charges there, as well.
Mitchell and Ray were incarcerated under a bond of $1,500 apiece. Both are slated for an initial appearance in General Sessions Court on November 5, 2015.
