Police arrest alleged serial thief accused of stealing nearly $5,000 worth of cigarettes

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Several police agencies collaborated to arrest a suspected serial cigarette thief tied to incidents in Grove City, Westland, and Worthington.

Dontevious Malone-Edwards was arrested Monday after allegedly stealing hundreds of packs from at least three convenience stores over seven days this spring.

On March 18, Malone-Edwards reportedly entered a Speedway on Stringtown Road in Grove City about 10 a.m. Police said he walked behind the gas station register and gained access to the storage room, where he took 232 packs of cigarettes valued at about $2,243. He was then seen leaving the store via video surveillance and witness statements.

About 2:15 p.m. March 24, Malone-Edwards again allegedly entered an employee-only room at a Speedway on West Broad Street in Westland. Police say he stole about $2,072 worth of cigarettes.

Two days later, Worthington police reported that a Duchess/BP station employee said an unknown male entered the store’s back office and stole four cartons of Marlboro cigarettes, valued at $693. The suspect exited the office and pushed aside the store clerk on his way out of the store.

At the BP station, a second employee was reporting attending to a woman who left with the suspect, later identified as Malone-Harris. Police believe the woman was distracting the clerk.

The two were seen leaving in a black Ford Explorer. That same vehicle was spotted in similar crimes by other agencies.

The woman, 37-year-old Keitra Reed, had warrants for her arrest in relation to the Westland and Worthington incidents, and a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy said he has a number of cases involving the two suspects.

Reed and Malone-Harris are charged with two counts of burglary. Malone-Harris also was charged with theft.

In Franklin County Municipal Court, Malone-Harris was issued $65,000 in total bond amounts across all three cases. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 15.