News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office

Sheriff's Office arrests female suspected of shoplifting in excess of $150,000 in high-end merchandise

Posted: June 2, 2009, 1:19 p.m.

Photo: Louise Marie Corbin, age 62

CCSO CASE # 08-34253

Starting in approximately January 2007, investigators with Macy's started to note a loss of inventory in several specialty items. Investigators began to monitor these items -- and they also monitored eBay sites advertising these specialty items.

Macy's investigators were able to determine that large amounts of merchandise -- similar to the merchandise being stolen from their stores -- were being sold on eBay by a subject identified only as Louise Corbin.

Macy's investigators had also observed an adult female suspect stealing several high-end clothing items on several occasions, but where unable to make an arrest. In at least one of these incidents, Macy's investigators had observed the suspect getting into a vehicle via surveillance cameras and were able to obtain a license plate. This license plate was later found to be on a vehicle registered to suspect Louise Corbin.

In September 2007, Corbin was arrested at a Nordstrom store in Portland for shoplifting over $1,000 in high-end clothing items. She has since been found guilty of that theft.

However, Corbin's Nordstrom arrest apparently did not stop her crime spree: She allegedly continued to steal high-end merchandise at Macy's. In October 2008, Corbin was arrested for shoplifting at the Clackamas Macy's store.

At this point, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office became involved in the investigation -- and began working closely with investigators with Macy's and Nordstrom.

As a result, the Sheriff's Office was able to obtain a search warrant for Corbin's residence in West Linn. During the execution of this search warrant, hundreds of suspected stolen clothing, accessories and jewelry items were seized as evidence.

Additional evidence seized included information that Corbin was selling stolen items on eBay under a business she called "Fifi's Boutique." Corbin was conducting this business out of her home in West Linn.

It is suspected that Corbin is responsible for over $150,000 loss to Macy's and Nordstrom over the past year-and-a-half. All indications are that Corbin worked alone during this criminal activity.

The case was presented to a Clackamas County Grand Jury in May 2008, and an indictment for Louise Corbin was returned. The charges and counts are identified as:

• Theft I -- 17 counts
• Theft I by Receiving -- 3 counts
• Computer Crime -- 13 counts
• Theft II -- 1 count

An arrest warrant was issued Tuesday, June 2, 2009, for Louise Marie Corbin, age 62. She was arrested by Clackamas County Sheriff's Office investigators on these newly issued warrants at her home on Woodsprite Court in West Linn. She was lodged today, with a total bail amount set at $100,000.

Louise Marie Corbin is scheduled for arraignment on these charges today (Tuesday, June 2, 2009) at 3 p.m. in Clackamas County Circuit in Oregon City.

Previously, Corbin was found guilty in 2008 in Multnomah County for shoplifting from Nordstrom (Theft I) and was placed on misdemeanor probation for that conviction.

[END]

Jim Strovink, Detective/Public Information Officer
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office