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Police on the Scent of Suspected Theft Ring

Theft Ring
Lake Worth Police Department recovered thousands of dollars in merchandise | Image by Lake Worth Police Department/Twitter

A supposed organized retail theft ring was disrupted on Monday in Lake Worth after a brief police chase resulted in two arrests and one suspect remaining at large.

Two siblings, Dexter and Destiny Goynes, are currently being held at Tarrant County Jail.

The Lake Worth Police Department (LWPD) alleged that the duo (and an accomplice) stole more than $2,000 worth of merchandise. The haul included dozens of scented candles from a single local retailer in Lake Worth, police announced in a Twitter post.

Destiny is charged with evading arrest and one count of organized retail theft. The 22-year-old is being held on two $1,000 bonds. Her brother, Dexter is charged with evading arrest with a vehicle and one count of organized retail theft. The 19-year-old’s bond is a combined $12,500, according to jail records.

Officers intercepted the Goynes siblings and their accomplice as they were allegedly trying to make their escape from the store in a vehicle. A brief police chase, which lasted only a few minutes, ended when the suspects got into a crash. Destiny Goynes was arrested at the scene while her brother and their alleged accomplice fled on foot, according to Fox Business.

LWPD caught up with Dexter Goynes after a good samaritan spotted him.

“2 of 3 suspects are now in custody thanks to the watchful eye of a Lake Worth citizen! When we work together, our community is safer,” posted LWPD on Twitter, above a photograph of Dexter being taken into custody.

The unidentified suspect remains at large as of Thursday.

While some on social media mocked the ordeal, making light of an organized candle crime ring, LWPD Chief J.T. Manoushagian sounded off on Twitter the day of the arrests:

“You may be wondering… ‘You sure are making a big deal about some three wick candles.’ Here’s why — theft (specifically retail theft) is the #1 crime committed in our community with millions in combined corporate losses annually. So when a theft occurs, we take it seriously. We will not turn a blind eye to any crime, & we sure won’t allow our community to be a place where lawlessness is accepted.”

As previously reported in The Dallas Express, organized retail theft has made itself felt as a prime driver in losses over the last couple of years, costing companies billions of dollars nationwide.

Thefts and other property crimes have been high in North Texas, especially in Dallas, where Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot’s short-lived prosecutorial amnesty policy for thefts under $750 may have led to an increase in larceny.

Chief Manoushagian fired off another Tweet on Wednesday, possibly hinting at a broader network at play in the scented candle operation:

“I know it sounds funny, but this is so much bigger than candles, and it’s affecting communities all across our country. Crimes like these generate massive amounts of revenue for large criminal organization[s], and it’s in everyone’s best interest for local police to stop it.”

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6 Comments

  1. Bret

    Unfortunately many counties are turning a blind eye to theft. Dallas being one of them. All crimes need to be prosecuted and given real sentences that disrupt the criminals life. Good job to the PD Criminals become emboldened and their crimes worsen over time.

    Reply
  2. JAThorne

    I am SO glad in Texas we still have some police departments that take this retail theft seriously. It is unfortunate that many departments’ hands are tied by the DAs that won’t prosecute.

    Reply
  3. Anna W.

    Congratulations LWPD, we pay the cost of retail theft. High insurance, which is passed on to citizens. You can’t low prices if people are stealing your inventory.

    When will people understand that the DA in Dallas County need to go. Vote for the right person, it has nothing to do with color or party. So sick of that divided MESS.

    Reply
  4. RSW

    Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot is pure evil and is enabling organized retail theft and other crimes through his inaction and Liberal Democrat policies. When will the victims of crime in Dallas rise up and get the sense to vote him out of office?

    Reply
  5. Djea3

    Let me get this straight: The charge is organized criminal theft and the bond is only $1,000×2, meaning that a bond agent will release them her a $200 fee? What kind of judge does that?
    The brother can get out for $1250? Really?
    And this is supposed to assure that these two show up for trial? Unbelievable.
    I am just hoping that the prosecutor maintains the organized theft charge as well as the evading/fleeing charge. The way things work in general the prosecutor will reduce this to a misdemeanor and accept a guilty plea with probation!
    What about the property damage from the accident? is there a charge for that? Was anyone endangered nearby from the accident? how about a reckless driving and endangerment charge?
    Come now, time to end all this theft. The way to do it is to take a hard stand.

    Reply
    • Anna W.

      Hard Stand, you will get the worst end for that. The courts don’t prosecute the bad guys anymore. Voting for judges mean nothing! Because the DA does nothing but have lunch with his buddies, who back him.

      Reply

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