Mom, Son Charged With $2M Toy Thefts
8/14/2012
Broward County Police(NEW YORK) -- A 46-year-old Florida man and his 70-year-old mother have been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $2 million worth of toys from 30 Toys R’ Us stores in Florida.
Michael and Margaret Pollara were arrested on Aug. 9 for grand theft and dealing in stolen property. According to investigators, the pair was involved a scheme called “box stuffing,” when a less-expensive item is removed from a box and replaced with a larger-ticket item. The two would then allegedly place the items on eBay for sale.
Investigators were able to track items purchased by the Pollaras using a Loyalty/Reward card that showed sales at 139 different Toys R’ Us stores in 27 states. The total paid for the 175 purchases made using the card was $6,738. According to the Broward Sheriff’s office, the two stole more than $2 million in toys.
The two are in jail facing charges of obtaining property over $50,000 by fraud, grand theft and criminal attempt to solicit. Attempts to reach their lawyer for comment weren’t immediately successful.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio