Cops: Three woman nabbed on shoplifting spree

Three women face shoplifting charges after incidents at two downtown stores Friday.

Leenice Pierce, 22, of Stratford; Deanisha Pierce, 22, of Stratford, and Beverley Stewart, 22, of Bridgeport were taken into custody after officers were dispatched to check on a complaint from the Shoe-Inn on Main Street that one of the them had stolen a white cellular phone case.

After officers were given a description, the women were found in the ODDZ store on Main Street, police said.

Inside Stewart's purse, police said an officer found a boot and several pairs of pliers and clippers that are commonly used as shoplifting tools, police said. Inside Deanisha Pierce's purse, an officer found a white cellular phone case that matched the one taken at Shoe-Inn, police said. All three parties were taken into custody.

The vehicle used by the three women was searched and a large amount of clothes, some accessories and foil-lined bags designed to deter detection of shoplifted items were found in the trunk, police said. The clothing still had security sensors and price tags still attached, police said, and appeared to have been taken from various clothing chain stores.

The cellular phone case taken at the Shoe-Inn was valued at $30; the boot taken from ODDZ was valued at $70. The clothing and accessories found in the trunk were valued at $1,030.

Deanisha Pierce was charged with fourth-degree larceny, possession of a shoplifting device and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny. Beverley Stewart was charged with sixth-degree larceny, possession of a shoplifting device and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny. Leenice Pierce was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny.

All three women were released after posting their bonds, and all three are scheduled to appear Feb. 21 in Norwalk Superior Court.