Woman, teen suspected of shoplifting across the Southeast captured in South Mississippi
D’Iberville police surrounded the Academy Sports on Saturday to catch a pair of women who had been at the store before and allegedly stolen more than $5,000 worth of merchandise.
“We believe this is an organized retail crime group,” which resells the merchandise they shoplift, said Police Chief Shannon Nobles.
Arrested on charges of felony shoplifting were Cristina Pantelica, 37 and Alandro Badanac, 19, who claimed their legal residency was Houston.
Nobles said the women are Romanian born, with no documentation to prove they are in the United States legally.
D’Iberville police received a shoplifting complaint March 17 from Academy Sports and Outdoors. The investigation showed the women concealed approximately $5,090 worth of baseball equipment and other merchandise from the store and fled without paying.
Both women are suspects in shoplifting at Academy Sports stores across the Southeast, he said.
“We got some property that was in the car,” Nobles said. It was stuffed in three large garbage bags.
The women may face additional charges, he said, once investigators determine if the merchandise was taken from other stores in D’Iberville or outside the area.
The women were each booked on a $100,000 bond set by Harrison County Justice Court Judge Albert Fountain. Both are being held at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center, without bond, awaiting action from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
D’Iberville has a retail crime unit that investigates shoplifting at stores throughout the city. Nobles said retail stores use the app to share photos and information about suspected shoplifters.
