BUFORD - Gwinnett County police officers say three shoplifting suspects they arrested at a Wal-Mart in Buford may be responsible for shopliftings at other stores in North Georgia.
Cpl. Illana Spellman said after their arrests last Thursday, it was discovered they were wanted by several other jurisdictions for similar thefts.
A loss prevention officer at the Wal-Mart on Sardis Church Road in Buford who called 911 told the operator that a man was waiting in the parking lot and that two women were inside attempting to steal televisions. The officer also said the same suspects attempted to steal televisions from a Wal-Mart in Commerce earlier in the day.
When officers arrived, the male suspect was found waiting in the parking lot in a green Chevrolet Tahoe. After making contact with the male, it was discovered that he was a wanted person by Stephens County Sheriff's Office for felony Theft by Taking. He was identified as 22-year-old Francisco Resto of Fayetteville. The arrest warrant was originally obtained by the City of Toccoa Police Department as the result of an investigation where a television was stolen from their area Wal-Mart.
According to the loss prevention officer, each suspect had loaded a shopping cart with 37- and 32-inch televisions, along with two hooded shirts, and parked them near store exists.
All three suspects were arrested and charged with Criminal Attempt to Commit Theft by Shoplifting. Two of the suspects, 19-year-old Darius Green and 17-year-old Shekira Lumpkin, both of Atlanta, were additionally charged with Giving False Name to an officer. Lumpkin and Green are currently being held at the Gwinnett County Detention Center. Resto was transferred to another agency to face criminal charges.
Thursday
October 10th, 2024
10:25PM
