Cassandra Harmon used OfferUp to sell stolen items
By Chris Caraveo
Independent Newsmedia
Two Glendale residents suspected of stealing thousands of dollars in items from two Walmarts are reportedly part of a larger group of people selling stolen merchandise on a popular phone app.
Buckeye police reported the arrest of Cassandra Dawn Harmon, 27, and Jeremy Jason Cornell, 35, after they tried to flee a Walmart near Yuma and Watson roads on Saturday evening.
Records released to the Daily News-Sun Tuesday reveal Ms. Harmon’s statements to police, in which she said she steals items and then sells them on OfferUp, described as a mobile-driven local marketplace similar to eBay, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.
Ms. Harmon told police she sells the items for about 50 percent of their total new worth.
How it happened
During the last of three thefts, Ms. Harmon and Mr. Cornell reportedly used a magnetic key device to take security measures off of items. They placed the stolen goods into two large, dark bins with a lid to conceal the top from view.
The items stolen total more than $3,800 and include security camera systems, toys, tools, drones, Roomba robot vacuums and other high-dollar electronics.
Ms. Harmon stated she bought the magnetic device online. Police searched her vehicle and found a Walmart employee uniform. Ms. Harmon told them she didn’t use the wardrobe that day but has used it before to help her go around the stores to draw less attention.
Police learned Ms. Harmon had stole the license plate on her vehicle from a parking garage in Phoenix to prevent authorities from looking up her own plate number.
Mr. Cornell told police he was aware the stolen items were being sold on OfferUp. On the day of the thefts, he originally stayed in the vehicle as a lookout, keeping in communication with Ms. Harmon via cell phone.
He then entered the store to help Ms. Harmon steal the items.
He told police Ms. Harmon was going to pay him $300 for helping her.
No bond for suspects
Buckeye police announced the pair’s arrest in a statement Monday, adding the two had also stolen items at the same store earlier in the day. In between, they reportedly stole items from a Walmart in Goodyear.
The total amount stolen is estimated at $7,500.
“Mostly all of the stuff stolen on that day has been recovered,” Donna Rossi, public information officer for the Buckeye Police Department, told the Daily News-Sun. “It was in the SUV that the suspects were driving around in that day.”
The two were booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail on charges of theft, organized retail theft and burglary.
Both were denied bond as they are on felony release.
Records indicate Mr. Cornell went along with the incident to steal items for his children for Christmas. He told police he would be going to prison before Christmas for eight years due to a burglary he had committed. The Arizona Department of Corrections states Mr. Cornell was released from prison in 2017.
While records state Ms. Harmon is homeless, she appears to have the same listed residence as Mr. Cornell near 51st and Northern avenues in Glendale. However, she reportedly has used her profits from the stolen item sales to live out of hotels.
Both are due in court Dec. 7, 10 and 12.
Stealing the lottery
In Monday’s statement, police said Ms. Harmon admitted to stealing several thousands of dollars worth of lottery tickets from Circle K stores around the Valley.
However, Buckeye police have only been able to confirm an August theft at a store in its jurisdiction along MC85.
That Buckeye incident is the only Buckeye one that I know of that we have video proof of,” Ms. Rossi stated, adding the Chandler Police Department may be investigating the suspects in potential ticket thefts. “As far as other agencies I don’t know.”
