SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Three California women have been arrested, accused of stealing as much as $21,000 worth of alcohol from Valley grocery stores.
Scottsdale police report that on March 13, Sheryl Darlene Adkins, age 25, Loryn Adkins, 34 and Ronesha Marie Brown, 32, were arrested outside the Safeway store near Pima Road and Thompson Peak Parkway.
Police say Brown was seen on surveillance video concealing six bottles of alcohol worth over $800. When she was confronted outside the store by loss prevention staff, she reportedly dropped her purse containing the alcohol.
Brown was recognized as the suspect in "multiple previous high dollar alcohol thefts" occurring in Maricopa County, police say.
According to court records, Safeway has reported seven incidents with a loss of over $21,000. Safeway added 30 extra loss prevention officers due to the loss.
In the parking lot, police allegedly saw an SUV that had been linked to many of the thefts. When the SUV was searched, police reportedly found $10,000 worth of stolen alcohol.
Court records show that Loryn Adkins also participated in the thefts, while Sheryl Adkins served as a lookout.
The three women are all from the San Diego area and have been charged with organized retail theft.
Scottsdale police say they are working with Safeway and other grocery stores in other cities to compile more possible charges.
