Man accused of forcing teen to steal for him
by: Lisa Brown
(9/18/2009)

A Texas man is in jail after police say he allegedly made a 15-year-old girl steal $6,000 in merchandise from a Cherryville business.

Ramon Rodriguez Pena, 34, of Houston Texas, is accused of having a juvenile go to the Cherryville Wal-Mart to buy a Shop Vac box that had been filled with merchandise, said Lt. Mike Allred with the Cherryville Police Department.

Police say three women had taken items from the store on Wednesday and filled the merchandise in a Shop Vac box before putting the box back on the shelf.

Loss prevention personnel kept surveillance on the box after video showed the women filling the empty box with ink cartridges and clothing.

When the 15-year-old purchased the box store employees followed her to a van Pena was waiting in and called police, Allred said.

Authorities believe this wasn’t the first time Pena has tried to pull off this scam. Store employees told police that Pena had allegedly been involved in similar schemes in Texas.

Pena was charged with felony larceny and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, authorities said. He is held at the Gaston County Jail on a secured bond.

Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests may be made.

Anyone with information on this crime should call the Cherryville Police Department at (704) 435-1717.

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