Police searching for shoplifters

FLORENCE — Police are looking for a man and woman accused of trying to steal several clothing items from Belk Department Store at Regency Square Mall on Sunday night.

Florence police detective Kevin Jackson said the couple were caught on the store's video surveillance.

"They were helping themselves to the clothing," Jackson said.

He said the man and woman could be seen on the video putting clothing items into what appeared to be a bag.

"They walked out with the items, which totaled more than $1,300 in clothing, and were stopped by the Belk lost prevention people," Jackson said.

He said the store employee was able to get the items back but the two suspects broke free and ran off.

Jackson said anyone knowing the identity of the suspects is asked to contact Florence police at 256-386-8685 or Shoals Crime Stoppers at 256-386-8685.

Woman accused of stealing checks

FLORENCE — Police said a local woman is in jail after she was accused of stealing her grandmother's checks or used them without permission.

Melanie Elizabeth Smith, 28, Room 105, Regal Inn, Sheffield, is charged with second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and third-degree theft of property, police said.

"We have one check that she wrote on her grandmother's account without permission and we believe there are others floating around there," Florence police detective Drew Harless said.

Harless said Smith is accused of taking the checks from her 89-year-old grandmother's house in North Florence around Thanksgiving.

"We know one check (for more than $250) was written Thanksgiving Day," Harless said.

Reports indicate Smith is accused of giving the checks to friends to get cashed claiming her grandmother was helping her out, but she couldn't cash the checks because she didn't have a driver's license.

"The people she asked to help her went to the bank, cashed the checks and then gave her the money," Harless said. "They got suspicious of what she was doing, told Smith's grandmother, who then notified police."

Smith was picked up by officers Tuesday morning and is being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center.

Man arrested after burglary

TUSCUMBIA — A local man is in jail after being arrested in connection with the Dec. 9 burglary of a local business, officials said Tuesday.

Richard Sylvester Miles, 48, Moyer-Sutton Street, Tuscumbia, is charged with third-degree burglary, police said. He is accused of breaking into Fame Package Storage on U.S. 72 and taking miniature bottles of whiskey.

Tuscumbia police detective Sgt. Stuart Setliff said officers received a tip Monday.

"The officers went to Miles' residence and he allowed them to search the house," Setliff said. "Inside the bedroom they found a case of miniature Canadian whiskey taken from the business."

Miles is being held in Tuscumbia City Jail.

REPORTS

Lauderdale County sheriff

Burglaries

Costume jewelry, money and keys to a 2010 Jeep Wrangler were taken from a residence in the 8200 block of Alabama 17, Florence.

A large toolbox with tools was taken from a residence in the 7000 block of Alabama 157, Florence.

Thefts

An 18-foot garage door was taken from a residence in the 100 block of Lauderdale 312, Florence.

Breaking and entering

CDs were taken from a car parked in the 100 block of South New Castle Drive, Florence.

A GPS unit, a rifle and debit card were taken from a truck parked in the 200 block of North New Castle Drive, Florence.

Two cable boxes were taken from a truck parked in the 200 block of North New Castle Drive, Florence.

Florence police

Thefts

A debit card and more than $200 cash were taken from a residence in the 500 block of Simpson Street.

A 1998 black Chevrolet S-10 truck was taken from a residence in the 1900 block of Cole Avenue.

Burglaries

A 32-inch television was taken from a residence in the 300 block of East Hawthorne Street.

Breaking and entering

A DVD player and 7-inch flip screen DVD stereo were taken from a 1997 black Ford F-150 truck parked in the 400 block of Davis Street.