Police say: Woman’s disguise didn’t fly

Local News

August 28, 2008

Heather Harris The Richmond Register Thu Aug 28, 2008, 08:04 AM EDT

A Richmond woman accused of robbing the Richmond JCPenney store and allegedly leaving her wallet and identification at the scene of the crime later attempted to retrieve it from police headquarters in disguise, police say.

Kimberly Jo Kirby, 44, of 101 Burdette St., Berea, was arrested July 31 on robbery in the second-degree and other charges relating to a shoplifting incident at the JCPenney store in the Richmond Mall.

Employees of the department store called police after spotting a female shoplifter, Richmond Police Sgt. Willard Reardon said.

“A female shoplifter, later identified as Kirby, was observed by store employees stealing a purse and concealing merchandise inside,” Reardon said.

Kirby allegedly then exited the store without paying for the purse or the other merchandise and was confronted outside by store employees.

“According to the loss and prevention person at JCPenney, Kirby threw the merchandise she had in her hands down outside the store and began swinging at the employee with her keys in-between her fingers,” Officer Brian Eaves of the RPD testified Tuesday, during Kirby’s preliminary hearing in district court. “After that she sped off in a silver Volkswagen.”

Meanwhile, back at JCPenney, employees going through their recovered merchandise noticed that Kirby had left her wallet inside the stolen handbag with her identification inside. These items were turned over to the police department.

A short time later, Kirby then called the store looking for her lost wallet and information. The store told her that she could find her belongings at the police department.

“Ms. Kirby called and wanted to know if anyone had found her wallet that she said had been stolen that day,” Eaves said. “And for some reason she asked if anyone was in trouble for shoplifting.”

“I told her I didn’t know anything about the shoplifting, but she could come pick up her wallet,” Eaves said, adding that after the call from Kirby, he contacted JCPenney employees to come to the station for possible identification of Kirby in the shoplifting case.

When Kirby came to the police department to retrieve her property, Eaves said she attempted to alter her appearance.

“When the shoplifting report was made her description was that she was wearing a white shirt and either blue jean shorts or capris,” Eaves said. “Kirby, when she showed up to the police station, had on glasses and a neck brace.”

Eaves then said he brought the store employee into the room were Kirby was being questioned.

“Her (Kirby) eyes widened and she said, ‘That’s the lady that tried to rob me!’” Eaves said.

Kirby later admitted to the theft, but said she did not take a swing at anyone.

Kirby was arrested and charged with robbery in the second-degree and two counts of possession of a controlled substance third-degree. The drug charges resulted from three loose schedule IV drugs that were found on her person at the time of arrest.

During her preliminary hearing, Kirby produced valid prescriptions for the loose medications that were found on her person.

Judge Brandy Oliver Brown found probable cause to pass Kirby’s case on to a grand jury.

Heather Harris can be reached at hharris@richmondregister.com or by phone at 624-6694 or 893-2341.

Text Only

Local News

Trash piling up at mobile home park
Uncollected household waste at a mobile home park on Big Hill Avenue in Richmond will draw a notice of violation from the Madison County Health Department and is prompting the city to clean up the site on its own.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
Realities of prescription pill abuse spark another summit
Prescription drug abuse has become so prevalent in parts of Kentucky, people are buying Mason jars of clean urine at flea markets and under the table at tobacco stores so they can pass drug tests.

February 3, 2012
Tackling childhood obesity
NFL football player and former University of Kentucky running back Artose Pinner autographed lunch bags, footballs, notebook paper and anything Glenn Marshall elementary students could find (including arms and hands) during his visit Thursday to kick off the Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP 60) grant program.

February 3, 2012 4 Photos
Police charge two with making meth
A traffic stop late Tuesday evening ended in two arrests for manufacturing methamphetamine.
A Richmond Police officer working traffic enforcement on the Robert R. Martin Bypass stopped a vehicle at about 11:50 p.m. for a traffic offense. The officer discovered several methamphetamine precursors and paraphernalia in the vehicle that police say were tied to one of the passengers in the vehicle, Curment Nicholas Carpenter, 40, of Lexington Road.

February 3, 2012
Man pleads guilty to driving to Richmond for sex with girl
(Editor’s note: This story contains graphic information some readers may find offensive.)
An Indiana man will serve at least 10 years in prison for traveling to Richmond to have sex with a 13-year-old girl, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lexington.

February 3, 2012
Berea Arena Theater presents: Kitchen Witches
Performances are 8 p.m. Friday through Saturday, and Feb. 10-11, and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 12 at 1835 Big Hill Road (KY 21) in Berea. Call 986-9039 for tickets, $8 for adults and $5 for students/children.

February 2, 2012 8 Photos
A toe to spare
Pigs usually have four toes on a foot, but not always, Leland “Bud” Bennett of Whitlock Road, said he learned this week.
While preparing the head and feet of a pig to make souse meat, Bennett said he made a surprising discovery after removing two of the toes.
When he went to cut off the next two, there were three. A smaller, third toe was higher up the leg.
“I’m 84, and I’d never seen a pig’s foot with five toes,” he said.

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
Model Laboratory’s annual Lunar New Year Celebration
Model Laboratory third-graders Olivia Florell, left, and Katie Upchurch, inside a paper dragon, wait Wednesday morning with their classmates in the school hallway for the start of the annual Lunar New Year Celebration parade. The students created the dragon after learning about Asian
calligraphy in art class and walked with the dragon, while playing instruments and clapping, to the end of the hall in front of classmates in pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade who have also been studying aspects of Asian culture. The parade is intended to bring good luck and friendship to the school for the new year, the Chinese New Year of the Dragon, said art teacher Denise Discepoli.

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
Teacher turned award-winning author to read at Richmond Area Arts Council tonight
Because Rebecca D. Elswick won publication of her debut novel, “Mama’s Shoes,” in a national contest, it might be easy to view her as a kind of literary American Idol.
But, unlike many of the precocious American Idol winners, Elswick toiled and studied her craft for years before achieving success. Now, the accolades are accumulating, and each honor further confirms her status as one of the hottest emerging authors in the South.
She will read and sign books tonight along with Lexington author George Ella Lyon at the Richmond Area Arts Council, 399 W. Water St., beginning at 6:30 p.m.

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
Project Read helps students turn the page
Steve Hupp likes solving problems, and at 27 years old, he has seen more than his fair share. Hupp has been in and out of hospitals since childhood, making it difficult for him to focus on school. To make it worse, he also is dyslexic.
Hupp dropped out of school in the 11th grade.
“Some places wouldn’t even give me an application,” he said about his search for a job. “I had doors close on me. I even had girlfriends break up with me.”

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Police say: Woman’s disguise didn’t fly

Have you ever attended a meeting of a local government agency or taxing district?

Site Map