AutoZone employees charged with theft of auto parts – Austin Daily Herald

Pair would allegedly market the parts to individuals, corporations

A pair of staff from an Austin vehicle pieces shop have been billed with two felonies apiece for their roles in a scheme to promote stolen elements for hard cash.

Christopher David Simmons, 40, and Jeremiah Coal Beaman, 24, had been the two charged Friday in Mower County District Courtroom with two counts of felony theft. Their upcoming appearance is scheduled for Feb. 23.

According to court problems, Simmons and Beaman allegedly stole areas from AutoZone, situated at 1100 18th Avenue NW, and then bought them to both equally men and women and enterprises in Austin.

They would then split the income.

The grievance states that in accordance to the AutoZone district shop manager, from November of 2022 to now the keep experienced an inventory decline of $57,326.27.

A director for reduction avoidance for AutoZone extra that while Simmons, the AutoZone store supervisor, and Beaman’s alleged thefts weren’t accountable for all of that amount, the thefts did characterize extra than 50 percent.

The criticism states that at close to 10 p.m. on Feb. 8, Austin Police had been dispatched to AutoZone just after the director for reduction avoidance desired to report a theft by worker.

She had been waiting for the district retail store supervisor to get there to area cameras inside of the shop following workforce remaining. This arrived following a idea about stolen merchandise from the retail store.

Though waiting around, the woman claimed observing Beaman loading up his truck with components. She determined to confront Beaman, who allegedly explained to her that Simmons experienced recruited him and admitted that there was stolen items at his residence in the 300 block of 12th Avenue SW.

The value of the components loaded into Beaman’s truck was listed at $981.84 and incorporated truck brakes and rotors.

In accordance to Beaman, Simmons would instruct him to produce stolen things to a certain spot the place he would fulfill an individual and get the hard cash. He also indicated that Simmons threatened to blame the operation on him if Beaman claimed just about anything.

The complaint goes on to say that in the course of the dialogue with Beaman, Simmons had repeatedly tried calling to determine out why the stolen products had not been dropped off nevertheless at Beaman’s dwelling.

Austin Police Officers instructed Beaman to answer the cellphone and put it on speaker and instructed Simmons that there had been a robbery at the store and could not make the drop.

Simmons then denied being aware of what he intended and asked why the district manager experienced been contacted just before him.

Officers were specified permission to look for Beaman’s home exactly where they learned products valued at $2,010.77. Although officers ended up at the scene, Simmons was observed passing the place and experienced allegedly named Beaman’s spouse inquiring what was going on.

At close to 12:41 a.m. the subsequent morning, law enforcement were being identified as back to the residence on a report that Simmons was observed wanting via windows. Law enforcement have been instructed to appear for a gold Chevy Tahoe.

The Tahoe was positioned at around 1:35 a.m. at a home in the 300 block of Next Avenue SW where by they made get hold of with Simmons.

Simmons allegedly denied involvement, on the other hand, a new car battery was located in the garage. Regardless of declaring he was only at the dwelling to see what occurred and to look at if Beaman was all proper, Simmons was arrested and taken to Mower County Jail.

Throughout even more questioning, Beaman, who was also arrested, informed an Austin Law enforcement detective that exchanges would consider place in the course of each the day and night at Galloway Park. He said that from October of 2022 to now, there have been 10-12 deliveries built for cash.

When Simmons was questioned, he allegedly admitted to thieving the merchandise stating he had made a “huge mistake” and “got in in excess of his head.”

He allegedly admitted that from February 2022 to October of 2022, they were thieving things and making approximately $100-$200 a 7 days. Nonetheless, setting up in October of that very same 12 months the operation greater to $500-$1,000 a 7 days.