GOLDEN — Two men and a woman suspected of being members of six-state theft ring have been arrested on shoplifting charges.
The three were apprehended Monday in connection with an incident at the Target store in south Jefferson County.
Being held on $25,000 bond each in the Jefferson County Jail are Amy M. May, 25; Jordon A. Debow, 20, and Corey K. Cornwell, 23.
The suspects appear to part of a larger theft ring that originated in Iowa, and may be responsible for up to 40 separate shoplifting incidents at Target stores in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska, said Jeffco sheriff spokeswoman Jacki Kelley.
Target’s corporate offices recently sent out an internal notice to its stores nationally warning about the theft ring and its operations.
Kelley said the group shoplifted an estimated $1,700 from three Colorado Target stores and about $25,000 in six states.
On Monday, Jeffco deputies responded to the Target store, 9390 W. Cross Drive, on a report of a theft. Kelley said store security had one man in custody and deputies searched the nearby area and found the two other suspects based on their descriptions and details about their vehicle.
May was found with three children under the age of 7. Kelley said the children were placed in the custody of Jefferson County Human Services so they could be united with family members.
May is seven months pregnant, Kelley said.
Last Sunday, the three entered two Arvada Target stores where Kelley said they selected a variety of DVD box sets valued at between $160 and $190.
Kelley said they cut the plastic wrap from the items to remove the security stickers, and then left the items in a location for another suspect to pick up and place into a Target bag.
The suspect then left the store without buying the merchandise and without setting off alarms, Kelley said.
The three are being held for theft series, theft by receiving and aggravated motor vehicle theft.
Kelley said jurisdictions in Colorado are being contacted to see if similar incidents have happened at other Target stores.
