February 29, 2024 – Port Charlotte, FL
Four females were arrested in Port Charlotte after a months-long string of liquor store thefts that spanned 16 jurisdictions.
The suspects are all juveniles from the St. Petersburg, Florida area and have been involved in liquor thefts across the state since at least December of 2023. Altogether, the group are suspects in 19 cases from 16 different agencies.
On February 27th, 2024, Publix stores in both Venice and North Port were victims of organized retail theft of liquor, each by four black females who were seen driving a black Kia sedan. Members of the North Port Police Department contacted the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office relaying information that the vehicle was last seen heading toward the interstate and going southbound.
Deputies staged in the parking lot of the Publix Liquors located at Peachland Boulevard, believing that this would be the next target. As they pulled into the parking lot, they observed the suspect vehicle parking, and the four females exit the vehicle walking toward the store.
The store manager from Publix already got a phone call from the North Port Publix and had a photograph of the suspects. The manager observed the females approaching and ran over to lock the door before they could enter. The females were carrying large purses, which had been used to steal liquor in the prior cases.
Seeing the manager lock the door, the females headed back to the running vehicle, where they were confronted by deputies. Two of the juveniles, later identified as Jaziah Perry (08/29/2008) and Janiya Sanders (02/25/2007), complied while the other two females fled.
Another suspect, identified as Amiah Lovette (01/26/2008), was quickly caught and detained. The final suspect, Ja’Naysia Anderson (07/27/2006), was ultimately located hiding in the bushes in a median.