PALM COAST, Fla – A shoplifting scheme went sideways for two Jacksonville fugitives after they tried to steal thousands of dollars in trading cards from a Palm Coast Target store where Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies were already on scene, authorities said.
The sheriff’s office said on Sept. 21, a deputy was at the Target investigating a stolen bicycle when the store’s loss prevention officer called to report that a man known for shoplifting at other Target locations had entered the store. The suspect was known to use the same method — grabbing a plastic storage container, loading it with trading cards and slipping out through a side fire exit, often with a woman driving a black sedan waiting outside.
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According to a press release from the Flagler county Sheriff’s office, the loss prevention officer watched as the man grabbed a shopping cart, picked up a plastic container from the home section and walked to the trading card aisle. He loaded multiple boxes of trading cards into the container, covered it with a lid and walked out of the store.
Deputies spotted the man in the parking lot, carrying the container toward a black BMW sedan with a woman behind the wheel. As deputies approached, the man dropped the container and ran toward the car. Deputies conducted a high-risk takedown and arrested both suspects according to the release.
FCSO says the man was identified as Andrew Simmons, 27, and the woman as Madeline Whaley, 35, both of Jacksonville. Inside the container Simmons dropped, deputies found 98 packs of sports trading cards worth more than $2,500.
According to authorities, as deputies removed Whaley from the vehicle, they spotted crumpled tinfoil with burnt residue near the center console. A search of the car turned up methamphetamine, fentanyl and a glass pipe with drug residue. A backpack belonging to Whaley contained a handgun that was later confirmed stolen out of Jacksonville.
Investigators also found that Simmons had four outstanding arrest warrants — one in St. Johns County for failure to appear and three in Clay County for grand theft.
Simmons was charged with grand theft, possession of methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia and four outstanding warrants. According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Jail, Simmons is being held on a $100,509.00 bond.
Whaley was charged with accessory after the fact, possession of methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, grand theft of a firearm and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. She is being held on a $25,000 bond.
“These two have apparently tried the same exact scheme multiple times in other areas and gotten away with it, but they’re 0-for-1 in Flagler County,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “They picked the wrong store in the wrong county at the wrong time, as unfortunately for them, deputies were literally waiting for them in the parking lot and arrested the thief and his getaway driver before they could even load their stolen trading cards into the car. And on top of that, of course, they had drugs, a gun, and were both fugitives. In this case they traded their stolen cards for a room at the Green Roof Inn.”
Both Simmons and Whaley have prior arrest histories. Simmons has previously been arrested for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, grand theft and petit theft. Whaley, a convicted felon, has prior arrests for possession of fentanyl, driving with a suspended license, trespassing and failure to appear.