Bend man accused of shoplifting dozens of bottles of alcohol now also charged with stealing 125 tools
(Update: New charges involving Harbor Freight Tools items)
Officers search his home for alcohol saw dozens of unopened tools
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Bend man recently charged with stealing five-dozen bottles of alcohol from area stores after he was caught on security camera putting three bottles of tequila in his pants is now also charged with stealing 125 items from Harbor Freight Tools, found in a raid on his home, police said Friday.
Police executed a search warrant Wednesday on the man's home on Ashford Drive, Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said. When he consented to the initial search of his home last month, officers saw a large quantity of unopened tools and other items from Harbor Freight Tools in his home, she said.
Police investigated the matter, obtained a search warrant and returned to his home. During the raid, they recovered 125 items stolen from the business, worth more than $3,700, and issued a citation for first-degree theft, a Class C felony.
Miller said officers returned the stolen merchandise to Harbor Freight Tools, and the man was trespassed for life from the store.
Officers had responded on Sept. 4 to a shoplifting report at the Wagner Mall Liquor Beer & Wine store on NE Third Street, Miller said last month.
After discovering a $500 bottle of tequila missing from a shelf, he reviewed the video footage and noticed the man conceal three bottles of tequila in his pants before buying a $10 bottle of vodka, Miller said, adding that the theft totaled at least $680.
Officers were able to identify the suspect and contacted the man on Sept. 9. He told them he gives away the bottles to friends, or in exchange for services, Miller said.
When police contacted the man, he had five bottles of alcohol in his vehicle, Miller said. He agreed to a search of his home in the 60000 block of Ashford Drive, where officers found several cases of wine and liquor.
A total of 57 bottles of alcohol, with a total estimated retail value of $1,850, were removed and stored as evidence. The original three stolen bottles of tequila were not recovered, Miller added.
The man was arraigned last week on the charge of second-degree theft, a Class A misdemeanor, in the alcohol thefts and is due to enter a plea Nov. 13, court records show.
Miller said after the initial arrest that more charges might be forthcoming and that police were asking to hear from any other stores that might have been victimized. But she said Friday that no more charges have been filed regarding the alcohol, and she had no reports indicating that other victims had come forward.
