TVs stolen from Utah County Wal-Marts

PROVO — Police from three cities are looking into the disappearance of at least 50 television sets they say were stolen from several Wal-Marts in Utah County.

"There's actually more than one set of crooks," said Provo Police Capt. Rick Healey. "It's almost as though somebody found out that others were doing it and got the idea."

Two men are in the Utah County Jail on separate allegations of theft, the first man arrested by Provo officers and the second man by Orem officers.

Springville detectives also investigated thefts in the Springville store, although they have since turned the investigation over to Provo police, said Springville Police Lt. Dave Caron.

Police are still investigating a possible family connection between the two men, although the alleged thefts occurred on different days and different times.

The first man, a 21-year-old from Pleasant Grove, was arrested Halloween morning, and later told police he had stolen five TVs from the Springville, American Fork and Orem Wal-Marts, according to a police report filed in 4th District Court.

The man had been stopped for a probation violation and later was questioned about the televisions.

He is being held in the Utah County Jail on $20,000 cash-only bond on theft and possession of methamphetamine, possession of a syringe and possessing a knife while on probation.

The second arrest, which occurred later in the day on Halloween, involved a 23-year-old Provo man who was seen moving a large amount of merchandise into the garden area of the Orem Wal-Mart, at 1355 S. Sandhill Road, according to a police report filed in 4th District Court.

The man had obtained a key to the gate in the garden area, according to the report. The area is usually locked at night and when an employee approached the man, he fled in a waiting sedan, according to the report.

The individual and a woman had moved more than $3,400 worth of merchandise, including TVs, into the garden area.

He was arrested and booked into jail for investigation of theft and is being held in the Utah County Jail on $10,000 cash or bond bail.

"We work very closely with local law enforcement agencies," said Wal-Mart spokesman Dan Fogleman.

Fogleman could not comment on specific thefts at any store because of the ongoing investigation.

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