Two New York residents and a California resident were arrested for allegedly stealing $2,143 worth of merchandise from two down town stores.
At about 3 p.m. Monday the Westport Police Department received a report from LF Stores on Main Street that two females and a male had just stolen clothing from the store and they were leaving in a vehicle with New York license plates, Westport Police Captain Sam Arciola said.
As officers were responding to the store, a description of the vehicle and its occupants was put out over the radio to patrol units, he said.
Officer Marc Heinmiller located the vehicle traveling southbound on Riverside Avenue towards I-95. A motor vehicle stop was initiated and in plain view under one of the passenger’s feet was clothing from the LF Stores, according to Arciola.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Interested in Westport's news, events, community bulletins, blogs and businesses? Sign up for the free Westport Patch daily newsletter, "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Additional store merchandise from LF stores and Urban Outfitters was located in the vehicle. Two of the suspects had purses with cut inside linings, which were used to conceal merchandise from the store, he said.
Westport police charged Tashays Smith, 23, of Mount Vernon, New York, Shimer Weetom, 22, of Bronx, New York and Fitzroy Bennet, 26, of Ranchocucamonga, California, with third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny and possession of a shoplifting device, according to the arrest report.
Both Smith and Weetom posted a $5,000 bond and were released. Bennett was released by the bail commissioner on a promise to appear in court. All three suspects are due in court December 6.
