Police: UPS Employee Embezzled Apple Products from Springfield Store

Fairfax County Police have charged a man with embezzlement of Apple products from a Springfield shipping facility.

Stephen A. Owens, 31, was arrested on May 3 in connection with a series of larcenies from the United Parcel Service (UPS) facility located at 8200 Alban Rd.

More than 60 Apple electronic products including Macbooks, iPhones, iPads and iPods were stolen in batches from the facility starting in September 2012, according to a news release from the Fairfax County Police Department.

UPS security personnel reported the thefts to police in November after customers started calling to complain they had not received their orders.

Police believe Owens, who worked at the facility as a sorter, allegedly stole the unopened Apple products by stuffing them into his pants or concealing them via other methods.

Owens allegedly sold the stolen products to online buyers and sellers across the D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia region at bargain prices during the holiday season, police say.

Lucy Caldwell, spokesperson for the police department, said Owens resigned from his job in December when he was initially charged with the thefts. Fairfax County General District Court records show Owens was arrested on Dec. 17.

The investigation of what police describe as a "sophisticated scam" took six months to complete.

"These types of cases are not simple to investigate," said Caldwell.

Police obtained warrants for all 60 larcenies in April and officers from Prince William County served Owens with the warrants on May 3.

Caldwell said police believe Owens acted alone.

"It was a complex investigation and detectives considered different aspects, including ruling out whether this was the act of an individual or multiple persons," said Caldwell.

According to Fairfax County General District Court records, Owens is currently out on bail and will appear in court June 28.

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