Paris Jackson, 45, of Massapequa, N.Y., is the first of three suspects to be apprehended. The theft ring targeted CVS Pharmacy stores throughout the Northeast. The total value of goods stolen from the six Lehigh Valley stores was more than $7,000.
View full sizeThe three people considered suspects in a retail theft ring allegedly hit numerous CVS Pharmacy stores throughout the region.Paris Jackson, 45, of Massapequa, N.Y., is the first of three suspects to be caught. Police said the theft ring hit CVS stores in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Jackson was arrested by police in New York after Bethlehem police obtained an arrest warrant, police said.
Two other suspects in the theft ring, Mark Hoousendove, of New York, and an unidentified woman, are still at large, police said.
The arrest came after a months-long investigation that involved Bethlehem police and CVS retail theft investigators. The total value of the goods stolen from the stores in Northampton and Lehigh counties is $7,173, according to court records.
"We thank Bethlehem police for their efforts," said Mike DeAngelis, a spokesman for CVS. "This was certainly a good outcome."According to court records:
Police ran a license plate for a Nissan Altima seen fleeing the CVS at 2240 Catasauqua Road after a theft Dec. 31. The car was rented to Jackson’s mother.
Police checked Paris Jackson’s phone records and found he made a call to Hoousendove around the time of another CVS theft Nov. 7 at 327 Woodlawn Ave., where the thief made off with expensive Oil of Olay products and pharmaceuticals.
Surveillance video reportedly showed Hoousendove was the thief both dates.
Using surveillance video and Jackson’s phone records police say they linked the pair and the unidentified woman to six other thefts:
Oct. 13: 1332 Main St., Hellertown
Dec. 6: 1457 Eighth Ave, Bethlehem; 2240 Catasauqua Road, Bethlehem; and 327 Woodlawn Ave., Bethlehem
Dec. 31: 2651 Easton Ave., Bethlehem; and 210 Pottstown Ave., Pennsburg, Pa.
Surveillance video recorded in each location showed a man, suspected to be Hoousendove, picking out a gift bag and loading items into it. An unidentified woman was with the suspect on several occasions.
Bethlehem police turned over their evidence to the CVS retail theft unit, which reportedly uncovered surveillance photos of Jackson, Hoousendove and the unidentified woman committing similar retail thefts in stores throughout the Northeast.
Jackson was arraigned Friday before District Judge Daniel Corpora in Easton on charges of organized retail theft and theft and sent to the Northampton County Prison in lieu of $30,000 bail.
Jackson has a preliminary hearing scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday before District Judge James Narlesky in Bethlehem.