Keizer Police Arrest Couple Described as Serial Shoplifters

(KEIZER) - Keizer Police say a couple from Pennsylvania responsible for a number of thefts from Target stores in Oregon were arrested by police officers Sunday.

Keizer Police Sgt. John Troncoso says a series of shoplifts took place beginning February 19th, when a man stole a Magellan GPS unit valued at $600, from the Target store in Keizer. Investigators say he returned on February 21st, and stole another Magellan GPS unit valued at $300.

At that point a Keizer Police detective began pursuing a number of investigative leads, working closely with TJ Lombardi, the Loss Prevention Officer from Target.

Troncoso says the man returned for the third time to the Keizer store on March 4th, at which time his attempt at stealing another $300 Magellan GPS was noticed by Mr. Lombardi, who summoned the police.

"The man abandoned his effort, and got into a car bearing Pennsylvania license plates. Patrol officers caught up with Eric Evans outside in the Target parking lot at about 3:25 PM. Mr. Evans resisted arrest efforts, during which Sgt. Bob Trump suffered a scraped knee and a torn uniform. Mr. Evans was also charged with Carrying a Concealed Weapon, for a butterfly knife he had concealed on his person."

Evans was charged with Theft I for the two previous GPS thefts, as well as Attempted Theft for the incident on the date of arrest. Traveling with a woman named Katheryn Boughamer, also from Pennsylvania, the two had apparently been visiting a friend in Eugene.

Troncoso says they had been living in campgrounds and motels in the Eugene area prior to their arrest. Boughamer was arrested for Conspiracy to Commit Theft I, for having accompanied Evans to the various stores and for having driven him away from the various scenes, knowing what his purpose was.

In addition to the incidents which occurred at the Keizer Target store, police say Evans had also attempted to steal a GPS unit from the Salem Target store on February 19th, and that he also stole GPS units and/or attempted to steal GPS units from Target stores in Springfield, Wilsonville, and possibly Beaverton.

Troncoso says the GPS units may have been sold in the Eugene area. "The cases that occurred in the counties other than Marion County will be referred to the appropriate District Attorney’s Offices for prosecution."

Keizer Police credited Target’s Loss Prevention officer for the collar, stating that Mr. Lombardi had done an excellent job at detecting Mr. Evans’ criminal activity and responding appropriately. Anyone having additional information on these cases is asked to contact Det. Vaughn Edsall at 503-390-3713, ext. 3465.

Evans faces charges of Theft I, Attempted Theft, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Resisting Arrest, Criminal Mischief and Assaulting a Police Officer. His total bail amount is $31,000. $10,000.00

Boughamer is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Theft I, her bail was set at $5,000.

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the Devil; March 11, 2007 6:02 am (Pacific time)

yes.,it's painfully so that Bush has qualified for hell several times over.., but this guy showed a distinct lack of imagination, and if I was a thief I sure wouldn't steal a GPS locater! Hell,why not the Sherriff-State Patrol-DEA evidence room in some out of the way county storage facility? Or why not get into politics?, found a church?,he certainly didn't outdo the Taser!, but he was caught folks!,I don't get this much sympathy for God's sake!,no wonder those ragheads furrow their brows in frustration at us western decadants!,speaking relatively of course, I find Bush obnoxiously repelling, I don't want to see him on "my watch!", come Hell or high water eh!?

Pretty Boy Floyd March 10, 2007 10:24 pm (Pacific time)

It sure is easy to rack up a bunch of B.S. charges. I'm not saying he should have stolen but put things in perspective. Bush should get the chair for stealing the election....it's all relative. Americans...geesh!

Anonymous March 10, 2007 3:58 pm (Pacific time)

You can not judge someone by a bad decision they made nobody knows him or what his life consist he is not from Oregon he is from Pa and his family has no way of knowing anything about what is going on and he has no way to contact them how do you think he feels

Anonymous March 10, 2007 3:53 pm (Pacific time)

He is not a bad guy he was in an unfamiliar location and probably had no other options so he made a stupid choice, did he get caught with the other devices they are trying to charge him with do they have evidence on those or is it all assumptions??????

doubled March 8, 2007 10:11 pm (Pacific time)

this guy is my homey i dont know why he would do this

Public Relations March 7, 2007 9:11 pm (Pacific time)

This is just publicity for the police. What about health care, Iraq, corporate crime, the government contract corporation in Massachusetts that used sweat shop labor for our soldiers. Those are real crimes!

Dear Dave March 6, 2007 4:11 pm (Pacific time)

Most theft is from employee (shrinkage). Also, I am constantly returning inferior quality to the stores. It cost me time and money. The human crap are on the Board of Directors and the government agencies that tell me there is nothing I can do about cheap poor quality goods except go back and return them or shop elsewhere. Nowadays there is no elsewhere for the middle-class; furthermore do you want to spend the rest of your life in small claims court to get your money back for inferior goods and services? Prices are high because of the difference between cost of goods sold and sales. The cost of goods sold today in most large stores is next to O. I would have to blame the manufacturers first though. People like this are a drop in the bucket. You are also paying for the salaries and other perks of the people in the corporate offices. Your also paying for the feebies given for "protection money". I am not saying you are wrong but the reason things are so expensive is that the cost of living is so expensive which has alot more to do with the nature of capitalism and corruption. The cost of a modern hut is also out of wack with reality and government subsidized housing is almost none existent. The problem goes way beyond the surface.

Dave March 6, 2007 3:24 pm (Pacific time)

Hey Boygla! Maybe stores wouldn't have to charge so much if human crap like these people weren't constantly stealing stuff!

Boygla March 6, 2007 1:07 pm (Pacific time)

Stores do not steel? Give me a break! Everything is tagged with high American prices and low sweat shot labor quality. Good for these two! I wish I had the noive!

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Keizer Police Arrest Couple Described as Serial Shoplifters

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