Shoplifting Leads to Discovery of Van Full of Meth, Arrests

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.


An alleged shoplifting attempt by two teens led police to a van where they reportedly found a stash of finished meth and various precursors.

Warsaw police were called Saturday to Walmart, 2501 Walton Blvd, where two teens were spotted by store security allegedly pocketing common items inside the store. Loss prevention employees also identified a third woman believed to be with the teens in the parking lot near a parked van, police said.

Police and a K-9 arrived at that van, where the dog alerted officers to possible narcotics inside, according to police spokesman Lt. Kip Shuter.

A search of the van turned up a white powder that field tested positive as meth, Shuter said. Police also found plastic tubes generally used to ingest meth, Shuter said.

In the van’s rear, police found a three-door dresser, where scales, pipes and burnt marijuana were found. A search warrant was issued to open a locked drawer of the dresser, in which additional pipes and burnt marijuana were found, as well as an empty pill bottle, according to Shuter.

Tiffany Marie Sanchez, 19, of 340 E. Levi Lee Road, Warsaw, was booked into Kosciusko County Jail on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia and theft, after admitting the drugs were hers.

China Rose Vanhook, 18, of Edwardsburg, Mich., was booked on a theft charge. Additional charges are being considered by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office, Shuter said.

The case against the third woman has been forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for review, as well.[[In-content Ad]]

An alleged shoplifting attempt by two teens led police to a van where they reportedly found a stash of finished meth and various precursors.

Warsaw police were called Saturday to Walmart, 2501 Walton Blvd, where two teens were spotted by store security allegedly pocketing common items inside the store. Loss prevention employees also identified a third woman believed to be with the teens in the parking lot near a parked van, police said.

Police and a K-9 arrived at that van, where the dog alerted officers to possible narcotics inside, according to police spokesman Lt. Kip Shuter.

A search of the van turned up a white powder that field tested positive as meth, Shuter said. Police also found plastic tubes generally used to ingest meth, Shuter said.

In the van’s rear, police found a three-door dresser, where scales, pipes and burnt marijuana were found. A search warrant was issued to open a locked drawer of the dresser, in which additional pipes and burnt marijuana were found, as well as an empty pill bottle, according to Shuter.

Tiffany Marie Sanchez, 19, of 340 E. Levi Lee Road, Warsaw, was booked into Kosciusko County Jail on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia and theft, after admitting the drugs were hers.

China Rose Vanhook, 18, of Edwardsburg, Mich., was booked on a theft charge. Additional charges are being considered by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office, Shuter said.

The case against the third woman has been forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for review, as well.[[In-content Ad]]
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