NORTH SMITHFIELD – North Smithfield police made two arrests in June of individuals who obtained money from the customer service desk at Lowe’s by requesting return funds for items they had not purchased – including an employee of the Dowling Village store.
The store employee, a 20-year-old woman from Woonsocket, was charged with four counts of obtaining property by false pretense after stepping forward to confess the crimes. The arrest report notes that in a confession letter to the store, the employee admitted to stealing $3,050 by stealing and fraudulently returning merchandise using duplicated receipts.
The individual has entered a not guilty plea and is due back in court on Tuesday, August 19.
On Tuesday, June 10, police arrested a 43-year-old Woonsocket man for similar alleged crimes.
Tomas Manzo reportedly placed lawn products and a door into empty shopping carts during two visits to the store in May, and then went to the customer service desk to return the items. He was charged by police with two counts of obtaining property by false pretense and a warrant for his arrest was issued.
On June 10, police spotted Manzo’s vehicle, as identified in the store’s security footage, at the Travelers Motor Lodge on Eddie Dowling Highway, and placed him under arrest.
In court, Manzo pled no contest to one of the charges while the second was dismissed, and was ordered to pay restitution.
Dumb criminals. Desperate. Still do not realize that there are hundreds of in-store and outside cameras, and security loss prevention ppl are on to this type nonsense that is as old as the hills!
Sad for employee, good luck finding decent employment now. Was it worth it….