Boardman police nab couple in laptop theft

Boardman police nab couple in laptop theft

BOARDMAN

A couple faces charges in Boardman after being accused of taking a laptop from Staples on Friday.

Jennifer Kostan, 31, of Niles is charged with complicity to the theft and obstructing official business and her boyfriend, John Patrick Holbrook Jr., 30, of Warren is charged with theft and obstructing official business.

Police arrived at the store at about 4:45 p.m. Friday on the report of a man stealing a display laptop valued at $400 and running out of the store. The man, who was accompanied by a woman, jumped into a Chevrolet Impala and fled, according to a police report.

The vehicle was spotted by police on South Avenue at 5:08 p.m. The female driver, identified as Kostan, was ordered to put the car in park and turn it off. Kostan failed to comply and also not exit the vehicle. Police had to escort her out of the vehicle to arrest her.

Holbrook was caught inside Big Lots on South Avenue after he fled from police in the Gabriel Brothers parking lot. Holbrook had the laptop in his hands and dropped it as police chased him.

Both Kostan and Holbrook were taken to the Mahoning County jail. They were arraigned today in Boardman court.