Sarasota News Leader

08/30/2013

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CRIME BLOTTER (Left) Katelyn Kemp/Contributed photo. (Right) Kathleen Zahn/Contributed photo TWO ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH RETAIL THEFT AND FRAUD CASE The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has arrested two women for allegedly stealing items from TJ Maxx and returning them to receive hundreds of dollars in store credit, the office has announced. On July 28, deputies arrested Katelyn Kemp, 30, (no permanent address), for allegedly stealing shoes and socks from the Tuttle Avenue location of the clothing store. That arrest prompted an investigation by the TJ Maxx National Task Force, which found additional thefts and returns involving Kemp and Kathleen Zahn, 39, of 1660 7th Street, Unit A, Sarasota, a news release says. "On five different occasions in July, one woman stole merchandise and the other returned it for store credit totaling more than $1,700," the release adds. Both Kemp and Zahn are charged with one count of Scheme to Defraud and one count of Grand Theft. Each has an extensive local arrest history for larceny, fraud, retail theft and drug charges, the release notes. "Zahn's history reaches back to 1994 but Kemp has 15 arrests in just the past two years," the release continues. "Both say they steal to fuel their drug habits," it adds. "This is another example of our strong collaboration with store loss prevention to crack down on retail crimes in this community," said Sheriff Tom Knight in the release. "Retail theft affects businesses and consumers, so we will continue to work to reduce this problem locally."

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