Published: December 25, 2008 12:14 am      

CRIME: Shoplifting suspects charged with thefts from BJ's Wholesale

It appears that a duo of shoplifters got too greedy for their own good.

City of Tonawanda police arrested them Tuesday for allegedly stealing more than $2,000 worth of merchandise from the BJ’s Wholesale Club on Young Street to support a drug habit.

“They went to the trough one too many times and bam, we got them,” Lt. Fredric Foels said Wednesday.

Late Tuesday, police arrested Timothy Love, 47, of 220 Loring Ave. Apt. 1, Buffalo; Duane L. McCreary, 43, of 63 Girard Blvd., Town of Tonawanda; and Jennifer Harris, 43, of 55 Girard.

Love and McCreary face multiple counts of petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for stealing Blu-Ray players, watches and televisions in a string of thefts Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, police said. The stolen goods total $2,009.85.

For now, the charges are misdemeanors, because the incidents occurred on three separate occasions, and the total dollar amount each time was less than $1,000. Harris allegedly was the driver and was charged only with criminal possession of stolen property.

Their luck ran out Tuesday evening when BJ’s personnel called police to report that two black males wearing puffy coats had just shoplifted from the store.

Police spotted the white Chevy Blazer they left in and pulled the vehicle over before they left the parking lot. Harris was identified as the driver. Police questioned Love and McCreary about the thefts. “Would (BJ’s) be happy with getting the property back?” Love allegedly told officers.

Police said Love admitted stealing five digital photo frames, valued at $649.95. In addition, he and McCreary reportedly confessed to taking several men’s and women’s watches, plus two Blu-Ray DVD players.

Harris gave police permission to search the vehicle. Before doing so, police patted down Love and McCreary, finding several watches on each, according to reports. Police said when Love stepped out of the SUV, a Blu-Ray player fell out of his coat.

According to reports, BJ’s employees positively identified Love and McCreary as the two men who had stolen from the store within the past several days, including on Saturday afternoon when they each reportedly stuffed a 19-inch television into their coats and walked out the door.

“Their sole motivation was to trade or sell the items for drugs,” Foels said, adding that heroin was their drug of choice.

Tuesday wasn’t the first time Love and McCreary have been busted by police in the Tonawandas. City police charged Love with petit larceny in April for allegedly stealing an air conditioner from Big Lots on Young Street. Kenmore police busted him on petit larceny charges Aug. 3 for allegedly taking several hygiene products from Dollar General.

Town police charged McCreary in 2006 with forging a prescription for 120 Loritab pills, according to Tonawanda News archives.

Love is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail, and McCreary on $5,000 bail. Love and McCreary are due back in Tonawanda City Court Jan. 6.

Contact reporter David J. Hill at 693-1000, ext. 115.