Couple shoplifted $5 million from Portland Safeway stores, police say

justhonest said on November 5, 2011 at 1:58 AM

Wow is all I can say.

SassyKat said on November 4, 2011 at 10:48 AM

Now, Safeway KNEW these folks were shoplifting and let them continue to shoplift while they built their case and a pregnant service woman ate a sandwich in the store and forgot to pay for it when she checked out and they arrest her and her child is taken from her! Safeway needs to figure out their customer base before the customer base owns their stores!

butch70 said on August 28, 2011 at 7:29 PM

These idiots do it every time and think they will get away with it and not get caught & how stupid are they.

arcticfireguy said on March 10, 2011 at 6:41 PM

Whut....? $ 5million divided by $ 400 K a year is 12.5 years of shoplifting. So Safeway watched them steal stuff for 12.5 years before they figured maybe they should do something about it? I find this a bit hard to believe...

fewwords said on March 6, 2011 at 3:57 PM

"On Nov. 19, Safeway security officials placed a tracking device on a van driven by the couple. Whenever the van was driven TO A Safeway, surveillance videos were carefully scrutinized." Safeway was not "tracking" or "stalking" I see this as a way for Safeway to monitor when these individuals were visiting their various store locations. But if they hitched a ride with a family member, neighbor, friend, borrowed a car or took a cab... no one "scrutinized the videos". WHOOPS! I bet these two are kicking themselves, they stole $5M worth and got next to nothing for it... just assuming that from looking at them. Y I K E S! Can you imagine when they get to prison, Q: So wha'd ya do? A: Shoplifting, a whole lotta shoplifting. I mean they had to offend repeatedly every day, even regular criminals would say... WHAT A COUPLE OF IDIOTS!

butch70 said on March 5, 2011 at 12:02 AM

They ought spend a long time in prison for stealing 5 million dollars of goods from Safeway in Portland.Good work law enforcement.

glenna4 said on February 23, 2011 at 7:10 PM

i am absolutley apaled that these people were tracked untill there was this much loss who is going to pay for this it is obvious that these people were stealing for drugs and they are going to jail with restitution as one of the penelties that will more than likley never be paid WHAT WERE THESE PEOPLE THINKING oh lets just see how far they will go, were any of the products recovered? or were they just watched while they were in the act , shame on Safeway and the locals that continued to watch my prices go up, up,up. I guess this is where my club card comes in [omg] guess roseuars isnt that far away and im almost sure they wont stalk me shame on you SAFEWAY!!!!

rick1989 said on February 22, 2011 at 2:13 PM

Given that Safeway, as a "private individual" placed a GPS device and tracked the couple using GPS software - which in turn - lead Safeway to view video in their stores by Safeway's own admission. "Private individuals" can not track someone's whereabouts without the person's knowledge; therefore Safeway violated anti-stalking laws. My guess is that all will be inadmissible in court as Safeway has already has admitted to finding the couple on video cameras as a result of using their GPS software. I hope the couple get a good court-appointed lawyer and rubs Safeway's nose into their own illegal activity. It would serve Safeway's arrogance right. : )

nwhominid said on February 21, 2011 at 5:28 PM

That is alot of merchandise, how long did it take folks to notice?...

spoing said on February 21, 2011 at 4:59 AM

Wall Street has ripped off the US economy to the tune of HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS? That fact is barely reported on by the media and almost none of those involved have ever done a day of time? Yet we are expected by this rag to give a FLYING RIP ABOUT A COUPLE OF SHOPLIFTERS? Get out of here and get some reputable journalists, you nauseate me.

rick1989 said on February 20, 2011 at 10:32 PM

In the recent SCOTUS ruling of Citizens United v FEC, Safeway INC is a "private citizen" and therefore should be cited for violating anti-stalking laws and all video inadmissible in court. That would serve Safeway INC right. : )

zeprulz said on February 20, 2011 at 10:26 PM

A private citizen cannot record another person without their consent and a private citizen (Safeway) cannot track another person without their consent. These two are gonna get off because everything that was done tracking them down was illegal. I don't agree with what they did in any way, shape, or form and agree that they should go to jail for a very long time. But the way they were caught was completely illegal and the "Barney Fife security people" at Safeway that did it wasted their time. If these two get a lawyer that's worth his/her weight in air, they we go free and prosper. (I see a TV movie of the week that nobody will watch)

welrdelr said on February 20, 2011 at 9:38 PM

I think the statue of limitations on theft is five years. So let us say they were stealing for five years and that they stole Five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) from Safeways in that five years. How imcompetent is Safeways' security at all those stores in Portland? To steal 5 mil you would have to take $83,000.00. a month for 60 months that is a lot of sacks and boxes of food. These two crooks were not only hard to catch they were great distributers did they have a store or supply a local store? If they could get 200 dollars of merchandise in one shopping cart they would have to steal 415 shopping carts a month or 14 shopping carts of food a day. If they were stealing small valuable items at 50 dollars a sack or purse full then they would have to make 1666 trips a month and if there are 10 Safeways in Portland that would visiting each store five or six times a day....... And we are suppose to believe that they did this for a number of years. NO WAY...

bartone said on February 20, 2011 at 9:36 PM

Could have never happened with black people. They follow every black person that comes in the store. But this dirty redneck could come in every day and rob the blind for 400k a year! Priceless, I love it!

jintz said on February 20, 2011 at 9:36 PM

Safeway has been rippin people off for decades - don't believe me? How often do you check your receipt before leaving the store? Many, many times, I have been charge regular price on sale items, other times there have been charges for items I didn't purchase. Those barcode scanners are real moneymakers for the stores - pay attention people !!!! Instead of chatting with the checker, watch the monitor as your bill grows - nuf-sed.

t4tillrman said on February 20, 2011 at 8:34 PM

JUST VERRRRY HARD TO BELIEVE. . . THE WHOLE STORY STINKS

t4tillrman said on February 20, 2011 at 8:27 PM

Magabag 8282 wrote: " I also think Safeway might want to rethink their security, it's worse than CTU." That's what I'm SCREAMIN' ! ! There is no way these two 'professionals' racked up $5 mil. worth of merchandise; I mean unless Safeway's chargin' exorbitant prices AND Xtremely incompetent OR even complicit !

stachito said on February 20, 2011 at 7:57 PM

Judging by the pictures and the fact that it happens everyday I would say that they are drug addicts. They would most likely get a list of items that the dealer wants (along with other things just to sell) and give it to him for drugs. $5 mil. is not that far fetched. For one you have no idea what several years could be. I hope they get major time. He will serve more than her no matter what because men almost always get more time. The third party will most likely be their dealer. White trash at its finest!!!

nimnar said on February 20, 2011 at 7:03 PM

So instead of throwing these two rats out right away Safeway collected evidence? This is just bizarre. Safeway spent a fortune to track and gather evidence against a couple of thieves. Now the State of Oregon will spend a fortune convicting them and housing them for a few years. Go figure.

magbag8282 said on February 20, 2011 at 2:47 PM

I also think Safeway might want to rethink their security, it's worse than CTU.

magbag8282 said on February 20, 2011 at 2:45 PM

No one's rights were violated with the tracking device. Safeway is not part of the government. Only the government (or an agent acting on behalf of the government) can violate your constitutional rights. It may be illegal in some areas to place a tracking device on someones car, but you're breaking a local ordinance or law. I see peaple making the same false claim about their freedom of speech being violated when yahoo takes down a post or an employer places limits on "speech" in the workplace. There is only one way a private individual can violate anothers constitutionally protected rights and that is in the area of voting (14th amendment) and is very very rare to the point that it you just don't see it today.

sistaelle said on February 20, 2011 at 2:36 PM

..Safeway security officials placed a tracking device on a van driven by the couple.." Wtf?? Since when can private corporations legally put tracking devices on private citizens? Police have to get court orders for that.. but Safeway can just whip one on? And why did they allow them to keep at it for so long? I'm not for stealing but I'm not for unbridled surveillance either. I agree that the total sounds grossly inflated.

jimbo96 said on February 20, 2011 at 1:59 PM

I say that anyone who doesn't think that these two, upon conviction, do not deserve to spend at least the next ten years in prison is probably a shoplifter themselves. This costs everyone who ever shops at Safeway more money for the items they purchase because they end up paying for the thefts. Safeway doesn't lose any money because they factor in theft in their prices but everyone else who buys stuff does. By the way, all stores figure this into their price structure as well...Shoplifting is not a victimless crime and should be punished at every instance. Most cases are not, which causes those who do to continue to steal because there is no real penalty. If these individuals have any assets at all, upon conviction they should forfeit them and any profit from there sale should go to victims of violent crimes. These people are the scum of the earth and should now suffer a penalty equal to the $5 million that they stole. I wish they could get 30 years without parole, but 10 would do

bullensign said on February 20, 2011 at 1:54 PM

"5 million dollars worth of food and other little kncik knacks is alot. I don't think I have purchased anything near that dollar amount in my life time." ...Neither have they...the operative word is "purchased."

densea said on February 20, 2011 at 11:22 AM

"mike009 said on February 20, 2011 at 8:05 AM These two allegedly stole $5 million worth of shampoo, razor blades, etc.? And this was going on for years and they never got caught? Sorry, I don't buy it. I think the store is wildly exaggerating their loss, for whatever reason." One of the items this couple targeted was "Rogaine". At $20.00 a piece(probably more expensive) this couple could steal 3 boxes from 10 stores a day ($600.00), 5 days a week ($3,000.00) x 52 weeks = $156,000.00. That's only one targeted item form 10 stores. I'm sure they visited more then 10 a day. It doesn't take long for the losses to pile up, do the math.

barry1817 said on February 20, 2011 at 10:36 AM

The only problem with jail time, is that it would probably cost the taxpayers more to put them in jail and keep them there, especially with payments to defense attorneys, then the actual damages. And that is where the system is even more broken than we can realize.

den60 said on February 20, 2011 at 9:39 AM

@gritz, I expect the Safeway security agents obtained a warrant from a judge to put the GPS device on the subject's vehicle. According to the story they were suspected of shoplifting for months before they installed the GPS device. It appears they were not only trying to gain evidence on these two suspects but they were also looking for their accomplice. I highly doubt that their Constitutional rights were violated. A GPS device would not have to be put inside a vehicles and is usually placed on the exterior of the vehicle in an inconspicuous place. Shoplifting in not a victimless crime. Those of us who pay for merchandise pay higher prices because that is the way stores recoup their losses for stolen merchandise. I hope these two criminals and their accomplice(s) go to jail for a very long time.

mike009 said on February 20, 2011 at 9:05 AM

These two allegedly stole $5 million worth of shampoo, razor blades, etc.? And this was going on for years and they never got caught? Sorry, I don't buy it. I think the store is wildly exaggerating their loss, for whatever reason.

rerun said on February 20, 2011 at 8:41 AM

Unions thugs and government officials robbing us right out in the open and criminal thugs robbing us in the shadows...no wonder EVERYTHING costs the WORKING man too much. I'm about ready to quit working so I can get a piece of that action!

cjcampbell said on February 18, 2011 at 1:23 PM

Okay, so they stole stuff that retails for $5 million, but how much did they get for it? I bet not even a tenth of it. If they had put all that effort into honest jobs they not only would have made more money but they would not now be in jail. You really have to wonder how stupid these people are to leave evidence that they stole so much.

hillyard said on February 18, 2011 at 12:02 PM

They already bailed out on their EBT card. Some bleeding judge will give them 30 days suspended and probably hook them up with housing and more money so they don't have to be victims of the system. My lunch break is over, I gotta get back to work so I can keep up on taxes to support this circus.

anotherjohn said on February 17, 2011 at 8:43 PM

I hope they throw the book at these two... and the dvd's... and the shampoo... and the Rogaine... and the batteries... and the razors...

lj1988 said on February 17, 2011 at 5:58 PM

@gritz You don't have to tell your kids you're tracking them. You're the parent. That's pretty much your job and that's your right. The fourth amendment only applies to the STATE. It does not apply to private citizens. READ THE CONSTITUTION. It amazes me how many simply do not understand how our constitutional rights work.

busterhymen said on February 17, 2011 at 5:43 PM

As far as the fourth amendment is concerned, the Bill of Rights only states what the Government is allowed to do or not do. Private businesses like Safeway can do anything they want that's not prohibited by law.

fewwords said on February 17, 2011 at 5:15 PM

System seems broke... can't prosecute for small items, but then HAVE to wait until $5M? Multiple Safeways each day and they had to then monitor all of those videos, then had to get their Safeway lawyers approval? Yep, broken. I have to also wonder... these people couldn't have been working at a regular job, with a reportable income, so were they also on DSHS?

denkoko said on February 17, 2011 at 4:47 PM

JAILJAILJAIL...FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD !!!

sourdoughjoe said on February 17, 2011 at 4:45 PM

Good thing for them they were not out on bail and skipped a court appearance. Bail bondsmen hire bounty hunters, within the law, and they are not under the same restrictions as local, county, or state LE. There must be more to this story concerning shoplifting $5 million over more than a decade. Either that, or I'm gonna visit Safeway more often wearing a very large overcoat and smiling at the checkout clerks when I exit the store.

pixelater said on February 17, 2011 at 4:10 PM

@ kameha, Licensed private investigators are not subject to the same requirements as law enforcement. I have had to hire P.I.'s several times to prove that employees were scamming L&I or Unemployment. They can track them, film them and tape them without a warrant.

1beachperson said on February 17, 2011 at 3:56 PM

They look like a pair of upstanding (NOT) citizens! Maybe they should have kept some of the personal items for themselves and cleaned themselves up a bit!

gritz said on February 17, 2011 at 3:55 PM

Fosterp - I think you are wrong in your assessment. Something called the Forth Amendment is in play here."The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."Did Safeway place the GPS in a area where entry to the vehicle was needed. Was the vehicle on their property when GPS was installed. Was the surveillance conducted outside of Safeway property. Did this violate the suspects of their reasonable rights of privacy. I recently placed software to track my kids with their phones. They had to be notified that I was doing this.

trucker45 said on February 17, 2011 at 3:11 PM

For what is worth it is not just Safeway that this has happened too. Every retailer is subject to a core group of professional thieves who make their living or supplement their income by stealing everything which has a high dollar value per item stolen.

yogibear said on February 17, 2011 at 2:59 PM

5 million dollars worth of food and other little kncik knacks is alot. I don't think I have purchased anything near that dollar amount in my life time.

fosterp said on February 17, 2011 at 2:04 PM

@kahmea - safeway is a private company not a government institution - your civil liberties do not apply - and if they would sue, sue for what? what are the damages? "oh you placed a device on my car so now im going to sue you for the damages I incurred from being arrested for the crimes I committed" hah, what a joke. Some of you people need to think about the junk you write before submitting

cpenrico24274615 said on February 17, 2011 at 2:00 PM

Just another reason our grocery costs are higher!

kameha said on February 17, 2011 at 1:54 PM

I believe placing an electronic tracking device on someone's vehicle is a violation of that person's civil liberties and I expect because of it they will get off and then sue Safeway.

banditrider said on February 17, 2011 at 1:38 PM

As far as the legality, they probably worked the loopholes. They placed the device on the "outside" of the vehicle. It probably didn't track, it just alerted Safeway when the device came onto their property.

whawhaisback said on February 17, 2011 at 1:35 PM

So it took over 12 years for them to finally stop these people??? No wonder I dont shop at safeway.

genagee said on February 17, 2011 at 1:31 PM

So how is it legal for "Safeway Security Officials" to put a tracking device on a vehicle? Wouldn't a warrant be needed for that? If not why? Not defending these people, just wondering how that is legal and if that would be a reason to have all that evidence thrown out of court. I believe the police need a warrant to do this, so why would safeway be able to get away with it.

goingnative1 said on February 17, 2011 at 1:30 PM

I guess safeway is a good place to shoplift, you can do it for years and over $5M before they can catch you.....they call that lose prevention, really???

kmk2cents said on February 17, 2011 at 1:15 PM

These people were busted in my store 10 years ago for stuffing their bags full of Tylenol. These people would then sell the merchandise to the "corner stores" for resale. Very hard for retailers to be able to prosecute and make sure the criminals are charged a crime for their theft. The more dollars they rack up in theft the more likely they will be able to prosecute. I'd say these people will be in jail for a while this time around!

banditrider said on February 17, 2011 at 1:05 PM

Five million from Safeway? What'd the wackos do? Back a semi up to the front door and start loading? If I was the security guy I don't think I'd want my name printed, not doing much of a job.

misterg said on February 17, 2011 at 12:48 PM

I suspect the estimates are off here. Thats over $1000 a day in shop lifting with no days off to total $4000,000 a year. Makes a good headline though.

intrestgal said on February 17, 2011 at 12:20 PM

No wonder groceries are so high... geez...

justhonest said on February 17, 2011 at 12:20 PM

$5,000.00 @$400.00 a year = over 12 years. Why did it take so long to arrest them?