Inside the Police Blotter: Shoplifting at T.J.Maxx, Harassing Phone Calls and Drugs

This week, Snellville Patch took a closer look into recent crime reports from the Snellville Police Department.

Barely Legal: An 18-year-old Lawrenceville man decided to shoplift the T.J.Maxx on Scenic Highway in Snellville last month. At the store, Snellville police officers met up with the loss prevention officer, who had detained the suspect after observing him conceal merchandise on his person. The barely legal man admitted to stealing the items and also admitted to having shoplifted before at that location, too. From this particular theft, the stolent merchandise totaled more than $300. He was arrested, sent to the Gwinnett County jail and charged with felony shoplifting.

Harassing Phone Calls: A Snellville woman told police that she had been receiving phone calls from a 37-year-old man and wanted it to stop. The man called her on several occasions, telling her that she knew where she worked and that he planned to go there. Via text message, she told him to stop contacting her and that she intended to get a restraining order against him. He's called her three times since she told him to cease communication, and no further action has been recorded by police.

If You Lie, You Will Get Caught: A homeless woman lied about her name and date of birth to police during a drug bust late last month. After Snellville officers noticed the scent of marijuana wafting through an window at Crestwood Suites on Presidential Circle, officers knocked on the door. Voices came from the room stating to "hide the dope," and the police were allowed in.

Officers searched the room and possessions of the four people inside. One woman, whose name and date of birth didn't bring anything up in a police system, had given officers a bag earlier to search, and it appeared to be clean, so she was initially allowed to leave. After she left, police found three bags that had several hypodermic needles with residue, which the others said was the woman's. The needles and residue tested positive later for methamphetamine.

The woman, who was asked to stay in the lobby of the hotel until the investigation was over, gave officers three different years for her birthday. When her criminal history was checked another time, it showed that she used multiple names, one of them being her real one. Refusing to cooperate with police, the woman, whose real age is 32, attempted to leave and tried to get away from the officers. She was arrested for lying to police and for possessing drug-related objects.