A pile of stolen electronics and other items were found inside a Belton home on Dec. 8, and authorities believe they've uncovered a theft ring that has hit stores across the metro area.
Brad Cooper has more detail about the case here. Jennifer D. Austin, 31, has been charged with one count of receiving stolen property, Cass County prosecutors said, though it sounds like they're looking at several other people as possible suspects.
Here's a PDF of the probable-cause statement from Belton police. The document alleges the suspects worked in pairs. They would go to a store's checkout and run the more expensive items through first -- things like iPads or PS3s. One person would take that item outside while the other stayed behind to "pay." That person would say they had forgotten their wallet outside and step outside to retrieve it. Only they wouldn't come back, police allege.
