| January
23, 2006 |
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| UPDATE: Bathroom Bandit Implicated in 14 More Cases |
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33-year-old
Shannon Bell Coleman (left) is facing additional
charges in a series of "thefts by trick," according to the lead investigator
assigned to the scamming cases.
Det. Sgt. Robert Beall of the Burke
County Sheriff's Office said there are currently 14 known victims Coleman has
allegedly stolen from, and the numbers are increasing due to recent newspaper
and television coverage. |
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| Investigators believe Coleman, who's address is
listed as 4176 Chambers Chapel Circle, Morganton, is the culprit who stole from
numerous Burke County residents after faking her way into their homes. She was
arrested by deputies during a traffic stop Saturday on Highway 18 North. |
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| According to Beall, Coleman approached homes in
the late hours of the evening or early morning and claimed to have car trouble.
She would request the tenant to allow her to use their bathroom, or in some
instances their telephone after gaining their confidence, the detective
stated. |
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| The good Samaritans who complied later found
their wallets and purses missing, along with money and credit cards, the
investigator said. |
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| The investigation is continuing, Beall said, and
others may be facing arrest in the case. The detective said the case has
stretched into Caldwell County, where homes there are believed to have been
victimized by Coleman. |
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| "Our investigation shows there may be more
victims who never bothered to report the crimes in both Burke and Caldwell
County," Beall said. "We encourage them to do so if they think Ms. Coleman was
at their house in the last several weeks." |
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| Sheriff John T. McDevitt said he feels that
other unsuspecting victims may have allowed Coleman into their homes, never
realizing that she may have stolen some of their personal property. |
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| Coleman was jailed in the Burke Catawba District
Confinement Facility under a $31,000 bond and was scheduled for a first court
appearance this morning in Burke County District Court. She is currently
charged with four counts of obtaining property by false pretenses, and one
count of felonious financial transaction card theft. |
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