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Tag: Theft

  • Elizabeth Hurley describes ‘monstrous’ privacy invasion by Daily Mail in British media hacking case

    LONDON — Elizabeth Hurley accused the publisher of the Daily Mail on Thursday of tapping her phones, putting microphones outside her windows and stealing her medical records among “other monstrous, staggering things” during testimony in a celebrity-studded privacy invasion lawsuit.

    “The best way I can describe it is like there is someone peeping into your life and into your home,” the model and actor said. It “makes me feel as if my private life had been violated by violent intruders — that there had been sinister thieves in my home all along and that I had been living with them completely unaware.”

    Hurley testified the day after Prince Harry choked up as he spoke of the emotional toll his battle against the British media had taken on him and his family. Harry showed up in the High Court on Thursday to show his support during much of Hurley’s testimony.

    Harry, Hurley and Elton John are among a group of seven claimants who allege that Associated Newspapers Ltd. hired private investigators to unlawfully snoop on them over two decades.

    The publisher denies the claims and has called them preposterous. It said that the articles were reported on with legitimate sources and many will be named by employees at the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday in the company’s defense during the nine-week trial in London’s High Court.

    Hurley, who like the prince brought similar phone hacking lawsuits against the publishers of the Daily Mirror and The Sun, said that she was unaware of similar allegations against the Mail until she was told in 2020 that Gavin Burrows, a former private eye, purportedly said that he had stolen her information at the behest of the newspapers.

    Burrows has since disavowed that sworn statement and said he never worked for the Mail.

    Hurley claims 15 articles about her between 2002 and 2011 relied on unlawful information-gathering. Several were about the 2002 birth of her son, Damian, and the paternity fight with his father, the late film producer Steve Bing.

    “The Mail’s unlawful acts against me involve landline tapping my phones and recording my live telephone conversations, placing surreptitious mics on my home windows, stealing my medical information when I was pregnant with Damian, and other monstrous, staggering things,” Hurley said.

    She said she had hoped her son, now a model and actor himself who sat in the courtroom, would never see those articles.

    “I felt really mortified that my son would be able to read all this stuff one day, and I feel really bad that that day is today when all this stuff is being regurgitated,” she said as she became upset when shown some of those articles in court. “Yet again, everyone’s privacy is being invaded in this terrible way, and I feel very helpless about that.”

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  • Immigration officials allow suspect in $100 million Southern California jewelry heist to self deport, avoiding trial

    LOS ANGELES  — Federal immigration authorities allowed a suspect in a $100 million jewelry heist believed to be the largest in U.S. history to deport himself to South America in December, a move that stunned and upset prosecutors who were planning to try the case and send him to prison.

    Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores was one of seven people charged last year with stalking an armored truck to a rural freeway rest stop north of Los Angeles and stealing millions worth of diamonds, emeralds, gold, rubies and designer watches in 2022.

    Flores faced up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit theft from interstate and foreign shipment and theft from interstate and foreign shipment. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Flores in late December after he requested voluntary departure, prosecutors said in court filings.

    ICE did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

    Flores’ attorney, John D. Robertson, motioned to dismiss the indictment against his client, asking for the charges to be permanently dropped and the case closed.

    Federal prosecutors oppose the motion and say they still hope to bring Flores to trial, asking for charges to be dropped “without prejudice” to keep the door open for criminal prosecution in the future.

    Despite Flores being a lawful permanent resident and released on bail, he was taken into ICE custody in September, according to court filings from his defense attorneys. Federal prosecutors say they were unaware Flores had an immigration detainer.

    This was a violation of his criminal prosecution rights and warrants his case getting dismissed, Robertson said in his motion.

    Flores opted for deportation to Chile during a Dec. 16 immigration hearing, according to court documents. The judge denied his voluntary departure application but issued a final order of removal, and he was sent to Ecuador.

    “Prosecutors are supposed to allow the civil immigration process to play out independently while criminal charges are pending,” federal prosecutors wrote in their motion opposing the case dismissal. “That is exactly what they did in this case — unwittingly to defendant’s benefit in that he will now avoid trial, and any potential conviction and sentence, unless and until he returns to the United States.”

    What happened to Flores is extremely unusual, especially in a case of this significance, former federal prosecutor Laurie Levenson said.

    Ordinarily, if a criminal defendant had immigration proceedings against them — which is common — immigration officials would inform prosecutors what was happening. In minor cases, a defendant can sometimes choose to self-deport in lieu of prosecution.

    “It’s just beyond me how they would deport him without the prosecutors … being in on the conversation,” Levenson said. “This really was the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing.”

    The infamous jewelry heist unfolded in July 2022 after the suspects scouted the Brink’s tractor-trailer leaving an international jewelry show near San Francisco with dozens of bags of jewels, according to the indictment. While the victims reported more than $100 million in losses, Brink’s said the stolen items were worth less than $10 million.

    A lawsuit filed by the Brink’s security company said one of the drivers was asleep inside the big rig and the other was getting food inside the rest stop when the thieves broke in.

    Associated Press

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  • Immigration officials allow suspect in $100M jewelry heist to self deport, avoiding trial

    LOS ANGELES — Federal immigration authorities allowed a suspect in a $100 million jewelry heist believed to be the largest in U.S. history to deport himself to South America in December, a move that stunned and upset prosecutors who were planning to try the case and send him to prison.

    Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores was one of seven people charged last year with stalking an armored truck to a rural freeway rest stop north of Los Angeles and stealing millions worth of diamonds, emeralds, gold, rubies and designer watches in 2022.

    Flores faced up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit theft from interstate and foreign shipment and theft from interstate and foreign shipment. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Flores in late December after he requested voluntary departure, prosecutors said in court filings.

    ICE did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

    Flores’ attorney, John D. Robertson, motioned to dismiss the indictment against his client, asking for the charges to be permanently dropped and the case closed.

    Federal prosecutors oppose the motion and say they still hope to bring Flores to trial, asking for charges to be dropped “without prejudice” to keep the door open for criminal prosecution in the future.

    Despite Flores being a lawful permanent resident and released on bail, he was taken into ICE custody in September, according to court filings from his defense attorneys. Federal prosecutors say they were unaware Flores had an immigration detainer.

    This was a violation of his criminal prosecution rights and warrants his case getting dismissed, Robertson said in his motion.

    Flores opted for deportation to Chile during a Dec. 16 immigration hearing, according to court documents. The judge denied his voluntary departure application but issued a final order of removal, and he was sent to Ecuador.

    “Prosecutors are supposed to allow the civil immigration process to play out independently while criminal charges are pending,” federal prosecutors wrote in their motion opposing the case dismissal. “That is exactly what they did in this case — unwittingly to defendant’s benefit in that he will now avoid trial, and any potential conviction and sentence, unless and until he returns to the United States.”

    What happened to Flores is extremely unusual, especially in a case of this significance, former federal prosecutor Laurie Levenson said.

    Ordinarily, if a criminal defendant had immigration proceedings against them — which is common — immigration officials would inform prosecutors what was happening. In minor cases, a defendant can sometimes choose to self-deport in lieu of prosecution.

    “It’s just beyond me how they would deport him without the prosecutors … being in on the conversation,” Levenson said. “This really was the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing.”

    The jewelers who were stolen from are also demanding answers.

    “When a defendant in a major federal theft case leaves the country before trial, victims are left without answers, without a verdict, and without closure,” Jerry Kroll, an attorney for some of the jewelry companies, told the Los Angeles Times.

    The infamous jewelry heist unfolded in July 2022 after the suspects scouted the Brink’s tractor-trailer leaving an international jewelry show near San Francisco with dozens of bags of jewels, according to the indictment. While the victims reported more than $100 million in losses, Brink’s said the stolen items were worth less than $10 million.

    A lawsuit filed by the Brink’s security company said one of the drivers was asleep inside the big rig and the other was getting food inside the rest stop when the thieves broke in.

    ___

    Schoenbaum reported from Park City, Utah.

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  • Copper prices surge: Fifth arrest made in Raleigh wire theft ring as industry calls for vigilance

    A fifth person has been arrested after being accused of stealing more than 1,000 pounds of copper wiring and other metal materials from the former DMV site in Raleigh on New Bern Avenue.

    Raleigh police arrested Kwantez Hagans, 28, on Monday.

    The thefts occurred on Aug. 29 and Sept. 2, according to court documents.

    An arrest warrant says Hagans worked at 4 Seasons Demolition Services at the time of the incident, where he was accused of stealing copper communication wiring with the intent to “steal and to defraud the defendant’s employer,”

    Court documents show he obtained more than $800 from Foss Recycling under false pretenses “to deceive and did deceive.” Officials said the money was obtained after Hagans exchanged the same copper communication wires that he had stolen.

    A Foss Recycling representative told WRAL News this week that the company follows all state regulations to prevent purchasing stolen materials, but did not comment on this case directly.

    North Carolina law requires recycling centers to record all transactions, identify sellers, and document vehicles arriving at the facility, often with photographs, according to the Raleigh Police Department. 

    “Through these partnerships and reporting requirements, businesses have been educated on what to look for when individuals attempt to sell large quantities of copper wiring. These efforts have played a significant role in deterring copper thefts throughout the city,” said a department spokesperson. 

    WRAL News has reported on the soaring price of copper, which makes it a profitable target.

    A social media post from Foss Recycling promotes “top dollar” for scrap copper amid the increased price.

    The rising value of the material is leaving some in the construction industry bracing for more thefts on job sites.

    “I’m sure they’ll get hit sooner or later. They tend to follow the price of copper,” said Charlie Wilson with C.T. Wilson Construction Company and a member of Carolinas Associated General Contractors. “The price of the copper itself is one thing, but usually what’s more expensive is the repairs to fix with the damage done to steal the copper.”

    In May, the Raleigh City Council voted to award a $1.9 million contract to 4 Seasons Demolition for abatement and demolition of the old DMV site on New Bern Avenue to prepare the space for future development. A city spokesperson tells WRAL News that 4 Seasons has full responsibility for the site and retains ownership of the materials during demolition.

    4 Seasons did not respond to WRAL’s request for comment. 

    The rising value of copper has security experts calling for boosted deterrence measures on job sites.

    “We know that it’s easy for them to remove, as well as you don’t need many tools. It doesn’t take a lot of sophistication to remove copper from buildings and places like that. So that I think makes it a very soft target and easy for thieves to go after,” said the CEO of local security company Guardiex, Jeffery Tanksley.

    Hagans is being held on a $50,000 bond and is expected back in court at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

    Quavon Gilmore was arrested in December and faced charges connected to the thefts. Elijah Walker, Michael Moore and Willie Jacobs III also face charges connected to the thefts.   

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  • Supreme Court will decide on use of warrants that collect the location history of cellphone users

    WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide the constitutionality of broad search warrants that collect the location history of cellphone users to find people near crime scenes.

    The case involves what is a known as a “geofence warrant” that was served on Google in a police hunt for a bank robber in suburban Richmond, Virginia. Geofence warrants, an increasingly popular investigative tool, seek location data on every person within a specific location over a certain period of time.

    Police used the information to arrest Okello Chatrie in the 2019 robbery of the Call Federal Credit Union in Midlothian. Chatrie eventually pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison.

    Chatrie’s lawyers challenged the warrant as a violation of his privacy because it allowed authorities to gather the location history of people near the bank without having any evidence they had anything to do with the robbery. Prosecutors argued that Chatrie had no expectation of privacy because he voluntarily opted into Google’s Location History.

    A federal judge agreed that the search violated Chatrie’s rights, but still allowed the evidence to be used because the officer who applied for the warrant reasonably believed he was acting properly.

    The federal appeals court in Richmond upheld the conviction in a fractured ruling. In a separate case, the federal appeals court in New Orleans ruled that geofence warrants violate the Fourth Amendment’s ban on unreasonable searches.

    The case is expected to be argued later this year, either in the spring or in October, at the start of the court’s next term.

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  • ‘They literally stole from you’: Man accidentally leaves card at Taco Bell. Then one of the employees uses it

    Having your credit card information stolen is more common than you’d think.

    In fact, there were over 748,000 cases of identity theft in the first half of 2025 alone. Credit card fraud comprised a majority of those cases.

    While there are some things that one can do to protect themselves, there are many situations where you have no choice but to hand your card over to a stranger. But what happens if you suspect that they’ve stolen your card information?

    TikTok user Andrew King (@andrewmking7) recently found out in a video with over 543,000 views.

    What Happened To This Man’s Credit Card?

    In his video, King shows himself talking to a Taco Bell employee. He tells her that, a couple of weeks prior, he ordered something from the drive-thru and handed over his credit card. However, it was never returned to him.

    “Then I looked at my card, and somebody charged, like, $40 worth of Taco Bell,” King says.

    After asking a few clarifying questions, the employee gets to work. Another employee comes and pulls up security footage.

    “This dude was so chill,” King writes in the overlay text. “We ended up watching the footage together and watched the worker use my card to order like 24 tacos.”

    By the end, King says that he was given a full refund and the worker was fired.

    Why Did He Wait So Long To Get His Card?

    In a follow-up video, King explains why he waited two weeks before going to the Taco Bell location about the issue.

    According to King, he initially didn’t notice what happened.

    “She said ur good to go have a great night,” he writes in a comment. “Didn’t realize she didn’t hand it back cause I had been handed all the food and drinks.”

    However, he soon discovered that his card was missing. Consequently, he canceled his card.

    “I already had a new one coming in the mail, and the other one’s useless because it’s canceled,” he says. “So, it’s not like they can spend more money on it.”

    King expected the money to be returned to his account. After it was not, he decided to go to the Taco Bell location directly. This resulted in the events shown in his video.

    What Should You Do In This Situation?

    If you realize your card has been stolen, there are a few easy steps you should follow.

    First, lock your card to prevent any further charges. After this is done, begin the process of canceling the card. This can be done by contacting your bank.

    If someone has already made purchases using your stolen card, you can dispute these charges. Legally, your maximum liability for unauthorized charges is $50. That said, many banks, like Citi and Chase, offer $0 liability for customers. 

    Finally, one should monitor their credit report to ensure no fraudulent activity has been linked to their name. If some is detected, it can be reported to the relevant agencies and removed.

    To prevent this in the future, one can use more secure forms of payment like Apple Pay, or simply pay with cash. 

    @andrewmking7 Taco Bell adventure #tacobell #confrontational #bold #stolen #sidequest ♬ original sound – music.ation

    In the comments section, users offered their opinions on what King experienced.

    “That’s crazy, most of the times crew members don’t even need to buy food, its free or discounted,” detailed a user. “Barely any need for them to steal $50 worth. Wow.”

    “I bet a customer paid with cash and the employee used the card to pocket the money,” speculated another.

    “I had a situation where my card was handed back to me and later that day, I got a notification that my card had an unauthorized charge so that tells me the worker had saved my card info somehow and used it to make an online purchase,” detailed a third. “Anything could happen at any time any place by anyone. It’s a scary world. Be extra careful.”

    The Mary Sue reached out to King via TikTok direct message and comment and to Taco Bell via email.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Braden Bjella

    Braden Bjella

    Braden Bjella is a culture writer. His work can be found in the Daily Dot, Mixmag, Electronic Beats, Schon! magazine, and more.

    Braden Bjella

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  • Florida sets execution date for man convicted of killing a traveling salesman

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A man convicted of killing a traveling salesman during a robbery is set to become Florida’s first execution of 2026 under a death warrant signed Friday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed off on a record 19 executions last year.

    Ronald Palmer Heath, 64, is scheduled to die by lethal injection Feb. 10 at Florida State Prison. DeSantis oversaw more executions in a single year in 2025 than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The previous record was set in 2014 with eight executions.

    Heath was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery with a death weapon and multiple forgery charges in 1990.

    According to court records, Heath and his brother, Kenneth Heath, met traveling salesman Michael Sheridan at a Gainesville bar in May 1989. After hanging out at the bar for some time, the three men agreed to go somewhere else to smoke marijuana.

    At some point, the brothers plotted to rob the other man, investigators said. Ronald Heath drove the group to a remote area, where Kenneth Heath pulled a handgun on Sheridan. The man initially refused to give the brothers anything, and Kenneth Heath shot Sheridan in the chest.

    As Sheridan emptied his pockets, Ronald Heath began kicking the man and stabbing him with a hunting knife, prosecutors said. Kenneth Heath then shot Sheridan twice in the head.

    The brothers dumped Sheridan’s body in a wooded area and returned to the Gainesville bar to take items from his rental car. The brothers made multiple purchases with Sheridan’s credit cards the next day at a Gainesville mall.

    Ronald Heath was arrested several weeks later at his Douglas, Georgia, home after investigators connected him to the stolen credit cards. Officers recovered clothing purchased with the stolen cards, as well as Sheridan’s watch, according to court records.

    Kenneth Heath was also charged with Sheridan’s murder, but he was sentenced to life in prison as part of a plea agreement.

    Attorneys for Ronald Heath are expected to file appeals to the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

    A total of 47 people were executed in the U.S. in 2025. Florida led the way with a flurry of death warrants signed by DeSantis. The state’s final execution of 2025 was the Dec. 18 lethal injection of Frank Athen Walls, who was convicted of fatally shooting a man and his girlfriend during a home invasion robbery.

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  • New Haven police chief abruptly retires after theft allegations, mayor says

    NEW HAVEN, Conn. — New Haven’s police chief abruptly retired following allegations he stole money from a department account, Mayor Justin Elicker announced Monday.

    The Democrat said Chief Karl Jacobson admitted he took money from a city fund that compensates confidential informants for helping police solve crimes.

    He said the chief acknowledged taking the funds for personal use when three of his deputies confronted him Monday morning over the financial irregularities.

    Elicker called the allegations “shocking” and a “betrayal of public trust.”

    “No one is above the law,” he said in an evening press conference at the police station. “We put our trust in law enforcement to uphold the law, not to violate the law themselves.”

    Jacobson didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment Monday. He had served as police chief in one of Connecticut’s largest cities and home to Yale University for more than three years.

    The mayor said he was set to meet with Jacobson and place him on administrative leave when the chief instead submitted his paperwork to retire, effective Monday.

    Elicker said it’s unclear how much and for how long Jacobson had been taking money from the informants’ account and that it doesn’t appear others were involved. He said city officials are cooperating with state investigators looking into the matter.

    Elicker said he has tapped Assistant Police Chief David Zannelli, who was among the officers to confront Jacobson over the funds, to serve as interim chief.

    Jacobson took office in July 2022, just weeks after a Black man was paralyzed in the back of a police van in an incident that roiled the police department and the city.

    Five officers were arrested in connection with the mistreatment of Richard “Randy” Cox, who suffered a neck injury and was left paralyzed from the chest down when the police van with no seat belts he was in braked hard to avoid an accident and sent him flying into a metal partition.

    Jacobson recommended firing four of the officers, and the city’s police commissioners terminated them. The fifth officer retired before he could be disciplined. One of the fired officers won his job back after an appeal.

    Jacobson had been with the department for 15 years before being named chief. He previously served in the East Providence Police Department in Rhode Island for nine years.

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  • Minnesota Police: Youth Softball Treasurer Stole $110K at Casinos

    Posted on: January 2, 2026, 04:26h. 

    Last updated on: January 2, 2026, 04:27h.

    • A former treasurer of a youth softball league allegedly stole money by using casino ATMs
    • A lawsuit claims the treasurer withdrew $110K in cash at tribal casinos

    Police in Minnesota say a former treasurer of a youth softball organization stole more than $110,000 over a nearly five-year span.

    Minnesota casinos theft crime softball
    A file photograph shows girls shaking hands following a youth softball game. Police in Minnesota say a former treasurer of a youth softball association stole over $110K, making cash withdrawals at two tribal casinos. (Image: Shutterstock)

    A lawsuit filed by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office alleges that Kristin Allyenne Williams, 52, of Maple Grove, made unauthorized cash withdrawals from banking accounts belonging to the Plymouth Wayzata Youth Softball Association (PWYSA) over four and a half years. The crime ended in February 2025, when a probe into the tax-exempt group’s finances led to her dismissal.

    Association President Tim Lyons tipped off police last year that his treasurer had allegedly been making ATM withdrawals at tribal casinos and covered her illegal tracks by classifying the cash transactions as “clinic expenses” and “equipment” related to the youth softball organization’s operations.

    The volunteer and parent-run organization “promotes the game of fastpitch softball as a means to teach girls the value of teamwork and sportsmanship, to enhance self-esteem, and to develop softball skills, all in a positive environment.” The PWYSA runs travel leagues for 14U, 16U, and 18U levels.  

    Casino Charges 

    Hennepin County prosecutors allege that Williams made numerous unapproved ATM withdrawals at the Mystic Lake Casino and Little Six Casino, both in Prior Lake. The casinos are owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

    Williams was reportedly the lone staffer in the organization who had access to the online banking account held with U.S. Bank. PWYSA officials told law enforcement that there was no reason for Williams to be withdrawing cash.

    The legal complaint does not detail whether Williams gambled with the ill-gotten money. Casino ATMs typically carry hefty service fees, making them unattractive other than for a gambler in need of quick cash.

    The probe into the youth softball group’s finances was initiated after the IRS sent a letter saying its tax-exempt status had been rescinded after failing to file annual tax returns for three consecutive years.

    Williams has been charged with felony theft by swindle and is due in court on Jan. 21. A person found guilty of such theft faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $15,000.

    Williams’ rap sheet is otherwise unremarkable, with a misdemeanor conviction in 2013 for failing to display license plates being her lone court record.

    Youth Sports Targeted

    Last May, the treasurer of a Little League Baseball chapter in Connecticut died suddenly at the age of 57. Months later, it was determined that Kenneth Grohs Jr., who had served as the treasurer of the Union City Little League for over 20 years, had been stealing from the organization to fund his online gambling addiction.

    An investigation made public in September 2025 concluded that Grohs had swindled over $165,000 from the Little League chapter to fund his FanDuel account. Legal online sports betting and casino gambling began in Connecticut in October 2021. FanDuel and DraftKings maintain the online gaming monopoly with their respective tribal partners, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods.

    Devin O’Connor

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  • Oysters, crab and $400,000 worth of lobster meat stolen in New England

    CONCORD, N.H. — Imagine the buffet.

    Forty-thousand oysters, lobster worth $400,000 and a cache of crabmeat all were stolen in separate incidents within weeks of each other in New England.

    The first seafood vanished on Nov. 22 in Falmouth, Maine, where authorities suspect someone stole 14 cages full of oysters from an aquaculture site in Casco Bay. Many of the oysters were full-grown and ready for sale, and together with the cages were worth $20,000, according to the Maine Marine Patrol.

    “This is a devastating situation for a small businessman,” said Marine Patrol Sgt. Matthew Sinclair.

    The other two thefts happened in Taunton, Massachusetts, about 160 miles (255 kilometers) away. First, a load of crab disappeared after leaving the Lineage Logistics warehouse on Dec. 2. Then, on Dec. 12, lobster meat destined for Costco stores in Illinois and Minnesota was stolen by a fraudulent trucking company, according to the broker who arranged the pickup.

    “The carrier we hired impersonated a real carrier,” Dylan Rexing, CEO of Rexing Companies, said Tuesday. “They had a spoofed email address. They changed the name on the side of the truck. The made a fake certified driver’s license. It’s a very sophisticated crime.”

    Lineage Logistics, Costco and Taunton Police did not respond to requests for comment, but Rexing said police told him about the crab theft from the same warehouse.

    That kind of cargo theft has been a problem for over a decade, he said, but has gotten worse in recent years.

    “It happens every day, multiple times a day,” he said.

    Freight theft generally falls into two categories, said Chris Burroughs, president and CEO of Transportation Intermediaries Association, a trade organization for the freight brokerage industry. The lobster heist fits in the first type, which involves someone impersonating a legitimate trucking company. The second type, known as strategic theft, often involves using phishing emails to gain access to computer systems and get paid without actually stealing the product.

    “This is a massive growing problem that needs to get addressed,” he said.

    Given its short shelf life, the stolen lobster likely ended up restaurants, both said. And while he’s seen plenty of quips about stealing butter to go with the lobster, Rexing said such thefts ultimately harm consumers.

    “Whether you eat seafood or not, they’re stealing other items. They’re stealing items to build your cars. They’re stealing items that go into computers,” he said. “Ultimately, that cost gets thrown to the consumer.”

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  • ‘You better step away from me’: North Carolina woman walks into Walgreens. Then she catches a customer putting items into a pink Sephora bag

    Being a bystander to shoplifting puts people in a weird, sometimes dangerous, spot. You don’t know if you should say something, ignore it, or just get out of the way entirely.

    And when nothing happens at all, that confusion can quickly turn into frustration.

    That’s exactly what happened to TikToker Denise (@shapedwithstrength) after she stopped by a Walgreens in Cary, North Carolina. What she says she witnessed, and how the store responded, left her stunned.

    What Went Down At This North Carolina Walgreens?

    In her video, Denise explains that she’s doing last-minute shopping when she ends up in the makeup aisle. That’s when she notices another woman lingering close behind her.

    “I’m in the makeup aisle and I see this lady walk behind me,” she says. “And I hear her.”

    At first, Denise assumes there’s a normal explanation. Maybe the store has shopping bags in the beauty section. Maybe she missed something up front. But then she hears items sliding into a tote.

    “I hear her taking something and putting it into a bag,” she says. “I’m thinking, all right, maybe they have bags… but I didn’t really see any pink tote bags up front.”

    Once she turns around, the situation becomes much clearer.

    “She walked a little bit closer to me,” Denise says. “And I’m always aware. I always have my head on a swivel.”

    That’s when she notices what the woman is actually doing.

    “She’s totally just picking whatever she wants in the skincare section and throwing it into her pink tote bag,” Denise says. “Just casually.”

    According to Denise, the woman then walks straight out of the store.

    “She just marches out the door,” she says. “Nothing. Nobody. No one says a word.”

    Meanwhile, Denise is still standing in line, waiting to pay. “I’m standing there like a schmuck waiting to pay for all my crap,” she says.

    That’s when she decides to speak up. “I said, ‘The lady that just left here has a whole bag full of skincare. Do you care?’” she recalls.

    The response shocks her. “We can’t do anything,” she says the employee tells her.

    That answer doesn’t sit well. “Well then I’m just gonna walk out with my crap,” Denise says she responds. “Why don’t you just put everything on the sidewalk and give it away for free?”

    She also asks to speak to a manager. According to Denise, that doesn’t go anywhere either.

    “The manager didn’t even come out of his office,” she says. “They called him on the phone. They knew I was there because I was being loud.”

    By the end of the video, she’s visibly angry. “How do you run a business like that?” she asks. “It makes my blood boil.”

    Does Walgreens Have A No-Chase Policy?

    What Denise experienced lines up with policies that many major retailers follow.

    A “no-chase” policy means employees aren’t allowed to pursue or physically stop someone suspected of shoplifting. The idea is to reduce the risk of violence, since staff have no way of knowing whether someone is armed.

    Walgreens follows this approach as well. In 2024, a Walgreens employee told Business Insider they were reprimanded after chasing a shoplifter out of a store and warned they could lose their job for doing so.

    That policy may explain why no one intervened while Denise watched the woman walk out.

    In the comments, plenty of people say that what Denise saw feels familiar.

    “Same in Nevada, I joke with the manager and ask him ‘why do I continue to pay for my stuff,’” one person wrote.

    @shapedwithstrength BALLS!!! @Walgreens ♬ original sound – Denise ?

    “They pass the cost to honest people, it’s ridiculous,” another said.

    “That’s why everything is locked up,” someone else added.

    One commenter who says they work retail summed it up plainly: “Management tells us we can’t stop them. Happens all the time.”

    The Mary Sue has reached out to Walgreens via email and Denise via TikTok messages for comment.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Ljeonida Mulabazi

    Ljeonida Mulabazi

    Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.

    Ljeonida Mulabazi

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  • New York woman buys $500 Walmart gift card for neighbors in Tampa. Then they try to redeem it: ‘This is war’

    With grocery prices climbing year after year, a Walmart gift card can feel like one of the most practical gifts you can give a family.

    You can buy food, household basics, school supplies, pretty much anything under one roof.

    That was the thinking behind one New York woman’s Thanksgiving gift to her neighbors in Tampa. She wanted to help ease the pressure heading into the holidays.

    Instead, she says the gift turned into a weeks-long mess involving broken systems, endless phone calls, and a $500 balance that no one could actually use.

    TikTok creator Claire (@claireinnyc) shared the situation in a video that’s now passed 274,700 views, addressing Walmart directly and calling the ordeal “war.”

    What Went Wrong with the Walmart Gift Card?

    In the video, Claire explains that she bought her neighbors a $500 Walmart gift card around Thanksgiving. She says the family has several children living in the household and works hard, often helping her out by taking in packages and lending a hand when needed.

    Before buying the card, she asked where they usually shop for groceries. “Walmart would be perfect,” they told her.

    So she purchased the card electronically and sent it over. That’s where things started to fall apart.

    Her neighbor went straight to Walmart to use the gift card for Thanksgiving groceries and was told it wouldn’t work. The system rejected it, flagging the expiration date, which showed a year far in the future, something like 2037. According to store employees, there was a maximum expiration window that the register would accept.

    Stuck in line with groceries they needed for Thanksgiving, her neighbor paid out of pocket.

    Claire says she immediately sent money to cover the cost. “I’m not a complete a******,” she says in the video. “He went there because I provided a gift.”

    At that point, she figured it was a mistake Walmart could easily fix.

    Walmart Customer Support Allegedly Wasn’t Helpful

    Claire says she started calling Walmart customer service and was quickly bounced between departments. The general support line sent her to the gift card line. The gift card line sent her to Mastercard. Mastercard sent her back to Walmart.

    Eventually, someone told her the card was a Walmart Mastercard, not a standard gift card, and that incorrect information had been entered when it was issued. Because of that, the card could no longer be used online, added to Apple Pay, or used digitally at all.

    The only option, she was told, was to use it in-store. So they tried again, and it still didn’t work.

    The expiration date continued to block the card, and no store could override it. Despite the balance still showing $500, no one could access the funds.

    “I can see the gift card. I can see the balance,” Claire says. “But no one can use it.”

    When she asked if the card could be reported as lost or stolen and reissued, she was told no. According to Claire, Walmart told her that once an electronic gift card is issued, the purchaser waives their rights to a replacement.

    “That cannot be acceptable,” she says. “You sold me something that cannot be used.”

    @claireinnyc @Walmart I’ve tried to resolve this amicably…. #walmart ♬ original sound – Claire in NYC ???????

    Viewers were stunned that a major retailer could let a situation drag on for so long.

    “Why can’t they just cancel the card and give you a refund?” one person wrote.

    Another added, “Surely they should just cancel the card and provide a replacement.”

    Others focused on the bigger picture. “Imagine all the money they bank each year on unusable cards,” one commenter said. “They probably hope people give up.”

    Suspicious Activity Adds to the Frustration

    In a follow-up video, Claire shares another unsettling detail. While checking the balance on the unusable gift card, she noticed multiple attempted transactions, none of which she or her neighbors had made.

    She says the card showed declined attempts in St. Louis, Atlanta, two locations in California, and even Amsterdam. One charge for 99 cents appeared to go through.

    Claire says this raised even more questions, especially since the card was never physically lost and never worked in the first place.

    As it turns out, this isn’t an isolated incident. One Facebook user claimed their sister’s gift card was hacked, drained, and never refunded. Fox 4 Dallas–Fort Worth has also reported cases where customers never received their gift cards or their money back.

    Claire says that wasn’t ultimately her outcome. In a later update, she shared that Walmart eventually sent her a check for the full $500, resolving the situation after weeks of back-and-forth.

    The Mary Sue has reached out to Walmart via its contact form and to Claire via email for comment.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Ljeonida Mulabazi

    Ljeonida Mulabazi

    Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.

    Ljeonida Mulabazi

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  • 12-year-old boy stops burglar in his home

    A family on Long Island, New York, is crediting their 12-year-old with saving the day.They say he did all the right things when someone broke into their house. 12-year-old Tristen Taylor of Medford was home alone in his bedroom midday Tuesday when he heard the kitchen window break and footsteps inside the house.A stranger was walking from room to room.”I said, I have to get out the house,” Tristen said. It may sound like the Christmas classic “Home Alone,” but unlike the holiday movie, there were no traps or pranks — just quick thinking, a fast police response and a child who did all the right things.After getting away through a ground-floor window, he called 911. As the man rummaged through the house, Tristen hid behind the garage.”I was on the phone with them, waiting for them to get here,” he said.Suffolk County police arrived in less than three minutes, catching the thief red-handed.”He is our little hero,” said Timothea Taylor, Tristen’s grandmother.”We were very proud that he was able to keep his composure and call the police as quickly as he did. Basically, without even thinking about it, he automatically called 911.”Tristen’s family credits movies he’s seen, plus his good instincts.To his neighbors, he’s also a hero for stopping a brazen burglar.Mike Campanella, a neighbor, said, “I would hope my son would have done the same thing, when someone is breaking into the house — caution is to get out and then call the police.””You just have to be brave and call them,” Tristen said. The suspect now faces burglary charges.He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Wednesday.

    LONG ISLAND, N.Y. —

    A family on Long Island, New York, is crediting their 12-year-old with saving the day.

    They say he did all the right things when someone broke into their house.

    12-year-old Tristen Taylor of Medford was home alone in his bedroom midday Tuesday when he heard the kitchen window break and footsteps inside the house.

    A stranger was walking from room to room.

    “I said, I have to get out the house,” Tristen said.

    It may sound like the Christmas classic “Home Alone,” but unlike the holiday movie, there were no traps or pranks — just quick thinking, a fast police response and a child who did all the right things.

    After getting away through a ground-floor window, he called 911. As the man rummaged through the house, Tristen hid behind the garage.

    “I was on the phone with them, waiting for them to get here,” he said.

    Suffolk County police arrived in less than three minutes, catching the thief red-handed.

    “He is our little hero,” said Timothea Taylor, Tristen’s grandmother.

    “We were very proud that he was able to keep his composure and call the police as quickly as he did. Basically, without even thinking about it, he automatically called 911.”

    Tristen’s family credits movies he’s seen, plus his good instincts.

    To his neighbors, he’s also a hero for stopping a brazen burglar.

    Mike Campanella, a neighbor, said, “I would hope my son would have done the same thing, when someone is breaking into the house — caution is to get out and then call the police.”

    “You just have to be brave and call them,” Tristen said.

    The suspect now faces burglary charges.

    He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Wednesday.

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  • 12-year-old boy stops burglar in his home

    A family on Long Island, New York, is crediting their 12-year-old with saving the day.They say he did all the right things when someone broke into their house. 12-year-old Tristen Taylor of Medford was home alone in his bedroom midday Tuesday when he heard the kitchen window break and footsteps inside the house.A stranger was walking from room to room.”I said, I have to get out the house,” Tristen said. It may sound like the Christmas classic “Home Alone,” but unlike the holiday movie, there were no traps or pranks — just quick thinking, a fast police response and a child who did all the right things.After getting away through a ground-floor window, he called 911. As the man rummaged through the house, Tristen hid behind the garage.”I was on the phone with them, waiting for them to get here,” he said.Suffolk County police arrived in less than three minutes, catching the thief red-handed.”He is our little hero,” said Timothea Taylor, Tristen’s grandmother.”We were very proud that he was able to keep his composure and call the police as quickly as he did. Basically, without even thinking about it, he automatically called 911.”Tristen’s family credits movies he’s seen, plus his good instincts.To his neighbors, he’s also a hero for stopping a brazen burglar.Mike Campanella, a neighbor, said, “I would hope my son would have done the same thing, when someone is breaking into the house — caution is to get out and then call the police.””You just have to be brave and call them,” Tristen said. The suspect now faces burglary charges.He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Wednesday.

    LONG ISLAND, N.Y. —

    A family on Long Island, New York, is crediting their 12-year-old with saving the day.

    They say he did all the right things when someone broke into their house.

    12-year-old Tristen Taylor of Medford was home alone in his bedroom midday Tuesday when he heard the kitchen window break and footsteps inside the house.

    A stranger was walking from room to room.

    “I said, I have to get out the house,” Tristen said.

    It may sound like the Christmas classic “Home Alone,” but unlike the holiday movie, there were no traps or pranks — just quick thinking, a fast police response and a child who did all the right things.

    After getting away through a ground-floor window, he called 911. As the man rummaged through the house, Tristen hid behind the garage.

    “I was on the phone with them, waiting for them to get here,” he said.

    Suffolk County police arrived in less than three minutes, catching the thief red-handed.

    “He is our little hero,” said Timothea Taylor, Tristen’s grandmother.

    “We were very proud that he was able to keep his composure and call the police as quickly as he did. Basically, without even thinking about it, he automatically called 911.”

    Tristen’s family credits movies he’s seen, plus his good instincts.

    To his neighbors, he’s also a hero for stopping a brazen burglar.

    Mike Campanella, a neighbor, said, “I would hope my son would have done the same thing, when someone is breaking into the house — caution is to get out and then call the police.”

    “You just have to be brave and call them,” Tristen said.

    The suspect now faces burglary charges.

    He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Wednesday.

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  • 4 burglars steal $120K in trucks, tools from Arapahoe County Fairgrounds

    Four burglary suspects stole $120,000 in tools and trucks from the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds on Tuesday night, according to the sheriff’s office.

    The four masked burglars broke into a maintenance shop and the Arapahoe County Events Center at the fairgrounds shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday, according to a news release from the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.

    They stole television screens, unspecified tools and two white Ford F250 pickup trucks with red Arapahoe County logos on the doors, sheriff’s officials said in the release.

    The trucks — license plates AIP-025 and QTL-363 — were last seen near E. Sixth Avenue and Potomac Street in northwest Aurora, sheriff’s officials said.

    If caught, the unidentified suspects will face charges of theft, burglary and criminal mischief, according to the sheriff’s office.

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  • Harvard morgue manager who sold body parts gets 8-year prison term

    A former manager of the Harvard Medical School morgue in Boston was sentenced to eight years in prison for stealing and selling body parts “as if they were baubles.”

    Authorities said Cedric Lodge was at the center of a ghoulish scheme in which he shipped brains, skin, hands and faces to buyers in Pennsylvania and elsewhere after cadavers donated to Harvard were no longer needed for research.

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    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

    By ED WHITE – Associated Press

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  • Hyundai and Kia will repair millions of vehicles under a deal to fix anti-theft technology

    Automakers Hyundai and Kia must offer free repairs to millions of models under a settlement announced Tuesday by Minnesota’s attorney general, who led an effort by dozens of states that argued the vehicles weren’t equipped with proper anti-theft technology, leaving them vulnerable to thefts.

    Under the nationwide settlement, the companies will offer a free repair to all eligible vehicles at a cost that could top $500 million, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said. Hyundai and Kia must also outfit all future vehicles sold in the U.S. with a key piece of technology called an engine immobilizer and pay up to $4.5 million of restitution to people whose vehicles were damaged by thieves.

    The settlement was reached by 35 states, including California, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The vehicles eligible for fixes date as far back as 2011 and as recently as 2022. About 9 million eligible vehicles were sold nationwide.

    Thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles soared in part because beginning in 2021, videos posted to TikTok and other social media demonstrated how someone could steal a car with just a screwdriver and a USB cable. Minneapolis reported an 836% increase in Hyundai and Kia thefts from 2021 to 2022. Ellison announced an investigation into the automakers in early 2023.

    Ellison said the two companies installed engine immobilizers on cars sold in Mexico and Canada, but not widely in the U.S., leading to car thefts, crimes and crashes that injured and even killed people, including teenagers.

    “This crisis that we’re talking about today started in a boardroom, traveled through the internet and ended up in tragic results when somebody stole those cars,” Ellison said at a news conference.

    He was joined by Twin Cities officials, a woman whose mother was killed when a stolen Kia crashed into her parents’ vehicle and a man whose car was stolen nine times — as recently as Monday night, and including seven times after a previous software fix.

    Under the settlement, Hyundai and Kia will install a zinc sleeve to stop would-be thieves from cracking open a vehicle’s ignition cylinder and starting the car.

    Eligible customers will have one year from the date of the companies’ notice to get the repair at an authorized dealership. The repairs are expected to be available from early 2026 through early 2027.

    In separate statements, the automakers said the agreement is one of multiple anti-theft efforts they have taken to help customers.

    “Kia is eager to continue working with law enforcement officers and officials at federal, state, and local levels to combat criminal car theft, and the role social media has played in encouraging it, and we remain fully committed to upholding vehicle security,” the company said.

    Hyundai said, “We will continue to take meaningful action to support our customers and ensure peace of mind.”

    ___

    Dura reported from Bismarck, North Dakota.

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  • Arrest log

    The following arrests were made recently by local police departments. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Massachusetts’ privacy law prevents police from releasing information involving domestic and sexual violence arrests with the goal to protect the alleged victims.

    BILLERICA

    • Michael Parker, 50, 67 Salem Road, Billerica; assault with dangerous weapon, intoxicated licensee carrying firearm.

    • Katherine Marie Main, 41, unknown address; fugitive from justice on court warrant.

    LOWELL

    • Brian Cooper, 29, 17 Yarmouth Drive, Nashua, N.H.; warrant (unlicensed operation of motor vehicle), operating motor vehicle without license.

    • Luis Oliveras, 65, 144 High St., Apt. 2, Lowell; operation under influence of alcohol.

    • Emily Rogers, 33, homeless; warrant (shoplifting), trespassing.

    • Kosall Deth, 44, 73 Fort Hill Ave., Apt. 2, Lowell; warrant (failure to stop/yield).

    • Kenneth Eng, 21, 27 Hastings St., Lowell; warrant (operation of motor vehicle with suspended license), failing to submit motor vehicle for inspection.

    • Kevin Sok, 32, 21 Main St., Dunstable; operating motor vehicle after license suspension, failing to submit motor vehicle for inspection.

    • Nicholas Powell, 36, 301 Old Marshall Road, Dracut; warrant (failure to appear for unlicensed operation of motor vehicle).

    • Daniel Ramos-Vallejo, 23, 35 Temple St., Apt. 19, Lowell; operating motor vehicle after license suspension, failing to submit motor vehicle for inspection.

    • Thomas McGrath, 34, homeless; shoplifting, trespassing after notice.

    • Mason Cruz, 30, 619 Gorham St., Apt. 2, Lowell; assault and battery on police officer, resisting arrest.

    • Mary Foley, 45, 93 Berkeley St., Billerica; breaking and entering motor vehicle, disturbing peace.

    • Teddy Buckley, 36, homeless; trespassing.

    • Betsy Bettencourt, 60, homeless; two counts of trespassing.

    • Peter Gichuhi, 44, homeless; public drinking.

    • Kristen Butler, 25, 205 Farrwood Drive, Haverhill; warrants (failure to appear for two counts of trespassing, and shoplifting by asportation), trespassing.

    • Bryant Dottin, 28, 18 Morton St., Lowell; warrants (failure to appear for unregistered motor vehicle, and suspended license).

    • Divine Morse, 25, 271 E. Eighth St., No. 410, Boston; warrant (uninsured motor vehicle).

    • J’Lohn Moro, 33, 590 Market St., Apt. 325, Lowell; shoplifting.

    • Khaisone Sinlong, 30, 189 Walker St., No. 5, Lowell; operating motor vehicle without license, failure to stop/stop sign, warrant (malicious damage to motor vehicle).

    • Michael Picardi, 38, homeless; warrant (possession of Class E drug).

    • Joshua Rivera, 37, 57 Mount Vernon St., Lowell; warrant (distribution of Class A drug), trafficking in 18 grams or more of cocaine.

    • Jeffrey Breitwieser, 38, homeless; assault on emergency medical technician or health care provider, trespassing.

    NASHUA, N.H.

    • Nathaniel Ciardelli, 32, no fixed address; criminal trespassing, theft by unauthorized taking ($0-$1,000).

    • Dagoberto Vasquez Bamaca, 20, 46 Ledge St., Nashua; simple assault.

    • Jack Pearson Smith, 20, 56 Furber Lane, Wolfeboro, N.H.; driving under influence.

    • Trisha Morin, 40, no fixed address; nonappearance in court.

    • Jorge Lewis Curet, 40, 92 Ledge St., Apt. 2, Nashua; stalking.

    • Marion Smith, 49, no fixed address; theft by unauthorized taking ($0-$1,000), nonappearance in court.

    • Cara Kulingoski, 48, no fixed address; warrant.

    • Darryl Hudson, 43, 7 Van Buren St., Nashua; out of town warrants.

    • Cameron Joseph Sousa, 21, 24 Gillis St., Nashua; nonappearances in court, suspension of vehicle registration, driving motor vehicle after license revocation/suspension, unregistered motor vehicle, operation of motor vehicle without valid license.

    Staff Report

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  • Multnomah County DA’s Office Seeking Public Help To Locate Suspect In Plaid Pantry Theft Cases – KXL

    Photo provided by the Multnomah County District Attorney

    Portland, Ore. — The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office Retail Theft Task Force is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a man wanted in connection with multiple thefts from Plaid Pantry stores in Portland.

    According to the DA’s Office, 54-year-old Timothy Ray Jones is wanted on charges that include Aggravated Theft in the First Degree. Jones is described as a Black male, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall and 135 pounds. He has no known address and has previously been known to frequent the Dawson Park area near North Stanton Street and North Williams Avenue.

    Officials say anyone with non-emergency information about Jones can contact the Retail Theft Task Force by email at [email protected]
    . Members of the public who see Jones are urged to call 9-1-1.

    Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Oregon, which offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest in any unsolved felony case.

    More about:

    Jordan Vawter

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  • More glittering royal jewels displayed while Paris is still uneasy over the Louvre robbery

    PARIS (AP) — A glittering exhibition of royal jewels is opening Wednesday in Paris even as the city still reels from the brazen crown-jewel heist at the nearby Louvre Museum.

    The four-minute operation in October emptied cases in the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery, forced its closure and rattled public confidence in France’s cultural security.

    With the plundered gallery still sealed off, another museum nearby is showcasing diamonds and tiaras that endured revolutions, exile and empire: treasures that have managed to escape the type of plunder now afflicting the Louvre’s own jewels.

    A loaded location

    The “Dynastic Jewels” exhibition at the Hôtel de la Marine — itself the site of an infamous 1792 crown-jewel theft — opens at a moment of national sensitivity.

    Spread across four galleries, the exhibit unfurls more than a hundred pieces that dazzle in both sparkle and scale. Its objects are drawn from the Al Thani Collection, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and major lenders including King Charles III, the Duke of Fife, Cartier, Chaumet and France’s own national collections.

    Some of the most striking loans include the giant 57-carat Star of Golconda diamond; a sapphire coronet and emerald tiara designed by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria, reunited here for the first time in more than 150 years; and Catherine the Great’s diamond-encrusted dress ornaments. A Cartier necklace created for an Indian ruler blends European platinum-age design with centuries-old gems.

    Security front and center

    Curators didn’t comment on details of operational security. But the Hôtel de la Marine stresses that it was rebuilt with modern, high-grade security when it reopened in 2021, and that its galleries were conceived with robust protections in mind. The museum did not say whether any measures had been strengthened in response to the Louvre heist.

    Still, the latest exhibition unfolds at a moment when Paris is urgently tightening museum protections.

    Last month, Louvre director Laurence des Cars announced that roughly 100 new surveillance cameras and upgraded anti-intrusion systems will be installed, with the first measures rolled out in weeks and the full network expected by the end of next year. The Louvre investigation remains active; meanwhile, none of the stolen pieces have been recovered.

    Arthur Brand, an Amsterdam-based art detective, said the Louvre heist will have sharpened vigilance at institutions like the Hotel de la Marine.

    “Authorities have learned from the Louvre’s lacking security,” he said. “The thieves know that the security people here aren’t going to be sloppy. They will have learned their lesson. It’s a good thing this exhibit is going on. Life goes on. You should not give in to thieves. Show these precious items!”

    With the Apollo Gallery closed, the Hôtel de la Marine is suddenly poised to become a prime stop for jewel-lovers — an unfortunate coincidence, or unexpected advantage — a place where visitors shut out of the Louvre’s Crown Jewels displays may naturally gravitate.

    Power, prestige and unease

    “We show how great gemstones, tiaras and objects of virtuosity reflected identity in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries,” said Amin Jaffer, director of the Al Thani Collection and one of the exhibition’s curators. “They were expressions of power, reflections of prestige and markers of passion.”

    That display of privilege and power lands differently today. Just this weekend in Britain, protesters at the Tower of London splattered custard and apple crumble on the display case of a royal crown at an anti-inequality demonstration.

    The Louvre robbery has sharpened scrutiny of where such jewels came from. Museums are increasingly pressured to confront provenance more honestly and address the exploitative networks that made the treasures possible.

    For some in Paris, the celebration of jewels so soon after the Louvre heist doesn’t feel right.

    “Honestly, the timing feels off,” said Alexandre Benhamou, 42, a Paris gift shop manager. “People are still upset about what happened at the Louvre, and now there’s another jewel exhibition opening just down the street. It’s too soon; we haven’t even processed the first shock.”

    A building with a memory

    Before the Revolution, what was then known as the Hôtel du Garde-Meuble housed the Crown Jewels and royal collections — a history the exhibition directly invokes. That the building’s 18th-century jewels were stolen in 1792 only deepens the irony: this stretch of Paris has witnessed such crimes before.

    Despite the charged backdrop, curators say they want visitors to marvel, to dream and to explore the layers of “affection, love, relationships, gift-giving” embedded in the objects.

    “Every object here tells a story,” Jaffer told AP. “They’ve changed hands ever since they were made, and they continue to survive.”

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