Boomerang Shoplifters Busted Returning Stolen Watches Within Minutes

Warwick, RI – A trio of shoplifters who swiped two watches from Kohls at 650 Bald Hill Road Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. made it out of the store without incident, but got caught when they returned 10 minutes later for refunds on the loot.

Officer Quentin Tavares was called to the department store at about 4:40 p.m., where he spoke to the loss prevention officer, who said that earlier that day a man and woman had entered the store, placing two Columbia watches worth $153.81 into their shopping bag. Then the woman selected a shirt and entered the dressing room, exiting with the watches concealed in her purse, according to the store employee.

Store security cameras recorded video of the pair leaving the store without paying for the watches, and getting into a red 2012 Chevrolet Cavalier four-door, driven by a third man before leaving too quickly for the loss prevention employee to stop them.

The cameras also captured the Chevrolet’s return 10 minutes later,  and then recorded the driver, later identified as Stephen Rogers, 31, of 69 N. Pleasant St., West Warwick, as he entered the store and asked for a refund on the watches, which he’d never bought.

Rogers completed the refund transaction, according to the employee, who called Warwick Police when the thieves returned. Warwick Officer Adam Arico arrived and detained the trio before they could leave a second time, according to Tavres’s report.

All three were arrested. The woman, identified as Kerry Colvin, 39, of736 Washington St., Coventry, was charged with shoplifting. Rogers was charged with obtaining money under false pretenses. The other man, Mark Torres, 55, of 1735 Main St., Apt. C38, West Warwick, was arrested on an outstanding warrant.