Montgomery County Police are investigating the theft of 29 cellphones totaling $24,000 by six women on July 18 at a Gaithersburg Verizon store.
According to a news release, the women entered the store, at 299 Copley Place, at 6:30 p.m. and distracted the employees by asking for help. One woman, who appeared to be pregnant, then stole the phones within one minute while employees helped the other women in the group.
Video surveillance footage shows one employee helping five women while the sixth steals the merchandise by entering an open storeroom.
The employee then is shown confronting the thief, before being surrounded by the other five women. According to the press release, the women “overwhelmed” the employee before fleeing the store in a dark-colored minivan.
According to detectives, the woman who took the phones might have pretended to be pregnant to hide the items she took.
Anyone with information is asked to call the 6th District Investigative Section at 240-773-5770 or Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS (8477) if they wish to remain anonymous.
Dan Schere can be reached at Daniel.schere@moco360.media
