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3 held in theft of baby formula
By JUSTIN GEORGE
Published March 27, 2007
WESLEY CHAPEL - In the annals of crime, there was "Baby Face" Nelson, who stole money from banks. Now comes grocer Publix, warning the world of a new breed of baby-leaning crook. Baby formula bandits. "An organized retail crime ring" has kept the Publix on S Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa from keeping its shelves fully stocked at all times, says a notice posted on the baby food aisle. Needy parents are directed to the customer service counter. Cans of formula such as Similac, which may sell for $25 each, can be marked up and fenced on Internet black markets, according to the National Retail Federation. An FBI assistant director told a congressional subcommittee last year that the retail industry loses between $15-billion and $30-billion annually from stolen items such as infant formula, over-the-counter medication and beauty supplies. Saturday, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office arrested three people who authorities suspect hit at least two bay area stores. The thefts were videotaped on March 17, when 18 cans of formula worth about $380 vanished from a Zephyrhills Publix, sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin said. Security cameras show two women using frozen food aisles to camouflage the transfer of baby formula into handbags. A Publix loss prevention supervisor put other area stores on alert. Saturday, witnesses say, a man wearing a gray shirt and dark pants and a woman wearing a light blue shirt walked toward the baby formula section at the Publix at 5400 County Road 581 in Wesley Chapel. The man loaded cans of formula into a shopping cart, and the woman pushed it down the aisle until she met another woman. One woman pulled out two fur bags. She filled the purses, put a stuffed toy on top of the goods and walked out with 12 Similac cans worth $302, sheriff's records state. Publix employees called the Sheriff's Office. Deputies pulled over a silver Ford pickup carrying three suspects: Selvin Alfredo Ponce-Hernandez, 28, was charged with retail theft over $300 and driving with an expired driver's license. Brenda Vargas, 31, faces charges of grand theft and retail theft over $300. Catalina A. Garcia, 46, was charged with two counts of retail theft over $300 and giving false identification to a law enforcement officer. The Lakeland trio remains jailed pending bail and Immigration and Customs Enforcement intervention. Justin George can be reached at 813 226-3368 or jgeorge@sptimes.com.
[Last modified March 26, 2007, 22:18:46]
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by ELIZABETH FLAKLES
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04/27/07 10:12 PM
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IN EVERY WHERE THEY ARE CRIMINAL,IN THIS CONTRY THEARE ARE TO US CITIZEN THAT ARE BANDITS OF BABY FORMULA AND OTHER CRIMINALS THAT KILL PEOPLE,IT IS NOT JUST INMIGRANTS.
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by Dick
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03/27/07 03:21 PM
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Apologie accepted Allison
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by Kim
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03/27/07 12:48 PM
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MiMi-some women can't breast feed-Glad you could. I tried, couldn't..therefore I spent $25 a week on formula (for 2 children). Aside from it being stolen by illegals, it is thievery that it costs $25 a week from the manuf.
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by Debbie
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03/27/07 12:21 PM
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This is what happens when scum like this is aloud to cross our borders and the border parol gets sent to prison while trying to stop these sneeky crooks,give them a green card back to Mexico and farmers hire the homeless instead of the scum like this
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by MiMi
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03/27/07 11:11 AM
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We should advocate for breast feeding.It's free and so superior to formula for a healthy baby.Leads to a higher IQ too.Nursed all six of mine.They are adults now,never sick and none over weight.Nor am I.
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by Kate
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03/27/07 10:40 AM
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What is sad is that people on W.I.C. so this very same thing...they get it for free and sell it! Just think about how many times these people got away with it before they were caught
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by Allison
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03/27/07 10:30 AM
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I take that back...I just noticed the last sentence of the article. My apologies for the oversight.
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by Dick
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03/27/07 10:22 AM
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Allison, read it over. It says they will be turned over to emigration officials. They need to be sent back
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by Joe
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03/27/07 09:59 AM
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There is a reason they are called "illegal" aliens. Illegal is illegal, regardless of your nationality.
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by Allison
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03/27/07 09:32 AM
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NOWHERE did it say anything about the criminals being illegal aliens. Don't assume that a Hispanic last name automatically means an illegal. Theft is theft, regardless of your nationality, and should be punished appropriately.
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by Diane
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03/27/07 08:26 AM
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Like I said, if we close our borders, and don't allow anyone else in, this crap would slow to a crawl. Stop letting illegals in here and deport them immediately if they are caught!
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by John
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03/27/07 07:52 AM
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More Illegals, when are we going to clean up this problem?
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by Mama M
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03/27/07 04:57 AM
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It's a sad world we line in when people have to steal formula, and re sell it to others! $25 a can! That is legal theivery! No wonder so many kids are underfed!!!
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by dotdotbleepbleep
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03/27/07 01:04 AM
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...and the loss is passed on to the paying customer.
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by lee
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03/27/07 12:06 AM
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement do you jobs please! send them back over the border. keep them out of our jails
lets put our money to better use.....
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