News Summary
The Jacksonville Beach Police Department is actively seeking assistance from the public to identify suspects connected to recent thefts, including a wallet theft at Trader Joe’s and a shoplifting incident at Ulta Beauty. The authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the police, emphasizing the increase in local fraud and identity theft cases. Among the incidents reported is a widow’s experience with identity theft. Law enforcement is making efforts to combat these crimes and has seen arrests connected to fraudulent activities.
Jacksonville Beach Police Department is actively seeking public assistance to identify suspects involved in recent theft incidents, including stolen wallets and shoplifting events. A wallet theft occurred at Trader Joe’s in Jacksonville Beach on August 26 at 4:12 p.m. The stolen wallet contained several credit cards, which were subsequently used by the suspects at the Apple Store in St. Johns Town Center just 18 minutes later. The total fraudulent purchases made with the victim’s credit cards exceeded $1,500.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the Trader Joe’s incident to contact Officer D. Gibson via email at [email protected].
Additionally, another theft incident was reported on September 5 at Ulta Beauty, located at 3928 3rd Street South. In this case, suspects allegedly stole approximately $1,000 worth of merchandise. Surveillance images from the store identified one of the suspects as wearing a ‘Chrome Hearts’ hat. The police are also requesting the community’s help in recognizing the Ulta theft suspects, with Detective E. D. Filbert’s contact number provided for tips at 904-233-6686.
These recent thefts come amidst growing concerns surrounding fraud and identity theft in Jacksonville. One notable case involved a local widow, Carol Smith, who discovered that her late husband’s identity had been stolen. This incident revealed a scam where scammers impersonated her husband to illicitly transfer her landline without her consent. The scammers demanded a cash advance of about $2,000 from her bank account, highlighting the risks of what is known as port-out fraud, wherein criminals gain control over individuals’ phone numbers. Smith reported experiencing significant emotional distress as she spent a considerable amount of time resolving the fraudulent activities.
In a related context, AT&T disclosed that they have experienced unauthorized transfers of home phone numbers and reaffirmed their commitment to customer security in response to such incidents.
Furthermore, law enforcement has made headway in combating theft and fraud within the community. Recently, 47-year-old Kabreshia Caldwell was arrested by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. Caldwell is accused of stealing from over 20 elderly women across several counties in Florida, amassing more than $10,000 in a series of thefts that took place from May 2022 to March 2023. She reportedly targeted elderly shoppers in retail locations such as Walmart and Publix, employing stealthy methods to steal wallets unnoticed. Caldwell faces over 30 charges, including petit theft, fraud, and grand theft. Already incarcerated for unrelated offenses, she has been transferred to Clay County Jail, with her bond set at over $155,000.
In a separate incident, Christopher Conrad Ortiz, a former Neptune Beach police officer, received a six-month jail sentence for petty theft. While on duty, Ortiz was arrested for stealing cash from individuals he had pulled over during traffic stops. Initial charges against him included grand theft, following multiple complaints about missing property from three victims. An undercover investigation ultimately revealed that Ortiz had stolen $807 in cash from an undercover detective posing as an impaired driver. Alongside his sentence, Ortiz is required to make full restitution to the three identified victims and must surrender his Florida Department of Law Enforcement certificate.
These instances of theft and fraud underscore ongoing issues of safety and security in Jacksonville and the surrounding areas, prompting both police involvement and community vigilance.
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Additional Resources
- WOKV: Jacksonville Beach Police Seek Help Identifying Ulta Beauty Theft Suspects
- First Coast News: Jacksonville Widow Targeted in Phone Number Identity Theft
- Action News Jax: Local Woman Arrested for Stealing from Elderly
- Jacksonville.com: Ex-Neptune Beach Officer Sentenced in Petty Theft Plea Deal
- ESPN: Blake Bortles Helps Police in Jacksonville Beach Arrest
- Wikipedia: Theft
- Google Search: Jacksonville Fraud Theft
- Google Scholar: Identity Theft
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Theft
- Google News: Jacksonville Theft
Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
