Police bust alleged theft ring

PERKINS TWP. — Perkins police announced the arrest of members of an alleged theft ring. Those arrested are: • Christopher Wofford, 47, of the 1100 block of Rozell Ave., Cleveland • Kimberly Johnson, 23, of the 1500 block of Superior Ave. E., Cleveland Both were charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, which is a second-degree felony. Wofford and Johnson were additionally charged with theft. Charges are also pending for a fourth man, a 29-year-old Cleveland resident. The investigation began when a construction rental company in the 6700 block of Milan Road (U.S. 250) reported a boom lift had been rented in May and never returned, according to Perkins police Detective Joseph Rotuno. The piece of equipment was valued at $50,000. Detectives later learned that a similar boom lift was rented from a company in the 3000 block of Old Railroad Road and never returned. During the course of investigating the two cases, it was found that similar people were involved in both rentals, Rotuno said. Officers also determined that members of the alleged theft ring were also involved in thefts from Home Depot stores in Akron, Canton, Maple Heights and Brunswick. Detectives also discovered social media marketplace advertisements offering the boom lifts for sale. Police attempted to contact Johnson through social media as it was her account that posted the ad, but no one responded. Then, on Sept. 4, someone using Johnson's account reached out and said the boom lift was still available if the buyer still wanted to purchase it, according to Rotuno. Detectives obtained a phone number and spoke with Wofford, who said Johnson was his sister. Wofford reportedly told the buyer they had gone to Chicago to sell the boom lift but that sale fell through. Detectives were able to reach out to Amherst police to set up a "buy-bust" operation in their jurisdiction. This was done so as not to arouse the suspects' suspicion because the pieces of equipment were stolen out of Perkins Township. When the suspects arrived at the designated place for the sale, Johnson was in a second vehicle trailing a UHaul that was towing the boom lift. In the UHaul was Wofford and Jourdan Williams, 32, of Ferndale, Michigan, the latter of whom was charged motor vehicle theft and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Williams is suspected of being the ringleader of similar thefts of more than $5 million of equipment from more than 75 jurisdictions, police said. As of late Friday, Wofford and Johnson are incarcerated in Erie County Jail under $25,000 bonds. There is no court date currently scheduled for Wofford or Barber. Johnson has an appearance in Sandusky Municipal Court at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.