A Ring camera and a ringtone help nab a ‘bold’ bearnapper

Acton police solved a shoplifting case by simply calling the shoplifter back. 

When a woman stole a teddy bear from Joy Street Life + Home on July 22, she had foreshadowed her own arrival by calling ahead to ensure the item was in stock, store owner Jen McGonigle said. 

“It was very bold of her,” McGonigle told The Acton Bridge.

McGonigle was driving back from New York when her staff called to say something seemed off. From the car, she reviewed security footage using the store’s Ring camera system and saw exactly how the theft went down.

“She was very prepared,” McGonigle said. “She kept looking to make sure nobody was around and unzipped her bag, bent over, and must have stuffed it in.”

The woman then grabbed another toy of the same kind, a $65 Jellycat bear, bought it, and then left with one bear purchased and another safely stashed away. 

Then the staff made the connection: A woman had called earlier, asking for the same bear. 

“I almost wanted to call her myself,” McGonigle said, “but everyone was like, ‘No, no, no, no, don’t do that,’ so I just called the non-emergency line at the police.”

Quick action

Officer Steve Hawkins responded, and he made the phone call. 

“After a lengthy conversation, I was able to confirm the identity, I’d say approximately within the hour of speaking to Mrs. McGonigle,” Hawkins told The Bridge. 

The woman had no prior record or criminal history, Hawkins said, but her actions that day were enough to get her in trouble.

“She was very remorseful,” Hawkins said. “But I let her know that, unfortunately, that behavior is not acceptable and something needed to be done.”

Instead of charging the woman, the police and McGonigle agreed that everything would be settled if the bear was returned or paid for. So, the next day, the woman returned to the store and paid the $65.

“I have to give this person a lot of credit,” McGonigle said. “To have to come back to the store you stole from and look us in the eye, that would take a lot.”

She also noted that while she never wants to be the owner who’s constantly suspicious, the experience prompted her to add more security cameras and be more cautious in the future.

“We’re going to continue welcoming people, making eye contact,” McGonigle said, “but we are making sure we’re aware of what’s going on.”