A Romanian woman, who along with two family members took garbage bags full of stolen merchandise from the Whiteland CVS, was sentenced Thursday.
Isidora Constantin, 22, a Romanian citizen who most recently resided in St. Louis, pled guilty to charges of corrupt business influence, a Level 5 Felony; three counts of organized retail theft, a Level 6 Felony; and theft, a Level 6 Felony. Circuit Court Judge Andrew Roesener sentenced her to a 2.5-year term in prison with an order to pay $4,682.94 in restitution to CVS Pharmacies.
The charges arose from an incident on Nov. 6, when a Whiteland police officer was dispatched to a theft from the CVS on U.S. 31. After reviewing surveillance video from the store, officers apprehended three individuals, including Constantin, in a vehicle after they left the CVS store. Inside the vehicle, officers located 12 large garbage bags full of stolen merchandise in its original packaging, according to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office.
Officers worked with CVS Loss Prevention and determined the group had stolen merchandise from other CVS stores in Johnson County.
Video surveillance evidence showed the three entering the CVS stores, immediately packing their bags and pockets with various beauty products and leaving the store before employees could catch them. CVS Loss Prevention specialists also believe the individuals were responsible for numerous thefts from CVS stores in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, the prosecutor’s office says.
Two family members, an adult female and a juvenile, were arrested with Constantin. Their cases are still pending in county courts.
Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner praised law enforcement for their police work.
“Our local police were right on top of this and all worked together to nab these criminals: Whiteland, Bargersville, Greenwood, and Franklin all did a yeoman’s job. This is how it’s done,” he said in a statement on the case. “We see brazen thieves getting away with stealing from stores all across the country. Some jurisdictions act like this is the new normal. Not us. When they steal from our retailers, they’re stealing from all of us. And we all bear the costs in increased prices. We won’t tolerate it.”
Stealing in Johnson County ultimately ended the illicit shopping spree; Hamner hopes that leaves an impression.
“As this thief serves her years — 912 days — in state prison, I hope she remembers the mistake she made by deciding to steal in Indiana and in this county,” he said in a statement. “And I also hope she tells her friends: cross this county line, it’s prison time.”
