Wednesday, August 21, 2002
Items stolen included a laptop computer and a cell phone.
AUSTINTOWN -- Police here received several reports of theft earlier this week, including one that said a man stole a cell phone in the Wal-Mart parking lot on Mahoning Avenue by acting like he had a weapon.
A 15-year-old London Drive boy told police he was talking on a friend's cell phone in the parking lot at about 10 p.m. Monday when he was approached by a man who asked for the phone.
When the teen said no, the man put his hand in his pocket and acted as if he had a weapon. The teen gave the phone to the man, who then got into a car and drove away.
Computer stolen
Police also received a report Monday that a man ran out of Radio Shack on Mahoning Avenue with a $1,200 laptop computer.
A Radio Shack manager told police that employees had their backs turned to the laptop, which was on a display counter, when it was taken at about 10 p.m.
Missing money
Another report filed Monday says that an undisclosed amount of money was stolen recently from Send It Packin' Plus on state Route 46.
The business owner said she discovered that the money was missing while checking the store's finances. She added that she thinks the theft occurred about 2 p.m. Thursday, when a woman came to the business's rear door to ask for directions to Wal-Mart.
A business employee said she thinks the question was a distraction that allowed another person to come in the front door and steal the money.