Two suspects believed part of a theft ring targeting area Wal-Mart stores were arrested in Winfield Thursday night after allegedly stealing over $1,000 worth of property from the local Wal-Mart store, Winfield Police Chief Jerry DeVore said.
One of the two Wichita residents was spotted by a Wal-Mart security guard leaving the store with merchandise. Winfield Police Lt. Frank Owens – who has been coordinating the multi-agency investigation for Winfield police – was off-duty but happened to be in the store. The guard, Joe Hill, alerted Owens.
Owens recognized Mandy R. Crandall, 24, and ordered her to stop. Instead, she ran to where the second suspect, Christopher A. Boehm, 26, was waiting in a vehicle for her.
Crandall slipped on the ice and fell. Boehm tried to pick her up in the vehicle he was driving but the vehicle slid on the ice and knocked her down again. Additional police officers arrived to help and Boehm was arrested.
The woman claimed to be pregnant. She was taken by ambulance to William Newton Hospital where she was evaluated in the emergency room and then booked into the county jail, according to DeVore.
Stores in southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma have been hit by the theft ring since early December 2007. The representatives of the various agencies involved – including Arkansas City, Wellington and Emporia police and Wal-Mart security officers – have met on Sunday afternoons to share information.
“All the hard work just paid off,” DeVore said.
The robbers filled shopping cars with primarily expensive electronics, such as televisions and computers. The merchandise was taken out a fire door where a vehicle waited to load the stolen merchandise. The vehicle was stolen from the Wellington area, police learned.
“Through investigation using video surveillance, officers were able to link the thefts together,” DeVore said.
Crandall was charged with three counts felony theft, two counts conspiracy to commit felony theft, felony obstruction of the legal process, possession of marijuana, possession of stolen property, attempted misdemeanor theft and conspiracy to commit misdemeanor theft.
Boehm was charged with battery of a law enforcement officer, conspiracy to commit felony theft, three counts of felony theft, possession of marijuana, driving while license suspended, attempted misdemeanor theft, conspiracy to commit misdemeanor theft and no proof of insurance.
Several other agencies have charges pending. Further arrests are expected, DeVore said.
