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Two New Port Richey men accused of stealing $11,000 in cellphone merchandise

 
Robert Jackson, Ronald Hartshorn and Samantha Wranik were arrested by Pasco deputies on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018, after Jackson and Hartshorn stole nearly $11,000 in cellphone merchandise from a New Port Richey Metro PCS store, the Sheriff's Office said.
Robert Jackson, Ronald Hartshorn and Samantha Wranik were arrested by Pasco deputies on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018, after Jackson and Hartshorn stole nearly $11,000 in cellphone merchandise from a New Port Richey Metro PCS store, the Sheriff's Office said.
Published Jan. 19, 2018

NEW PORT RICHEY — Two New Port Richey men face charges after Pasco County deputies say they stole about $11,000 worth of cellphones and cellphone equipment at a Metro PCS store on State Road 54.

Robert Jackson and Ronald Hartshorn were arrested Wednesday morning at their home on Durney Street and face charges of burglary, authorities said.

A few hours earlier, deputies said the duo stole a total of nearly $11,000 in cellphone merchandise.

Around 4:45 a.m. Wednesday, Jackson, 28, and Hartshorn, 29, pried open the back doors of the store with a hammer and crowbar, deputies said.

Together, the pair took headphones, phone accessories and more than 70 phones, according to deputies.

When they were done, Jackson and Hartshorn fled the scene in a silver Toyota that deputies later found belonged to Samantha Wranik, 26, deputies said.

Deputies said the incident was caught on the store's surveillance camera footage. Footage they then used to identify Jackson and Hartshorn, through matching clothes, as suspects.

When deputies searched their home on Wednesday evening, they said they found all of the stolen merchandise.

Wranik was arrested by parole deputies around 3 p.m. Wednesday and charged with possession of methamphetamine and violation of parole.

Deputies said they found narcotics and leftover items from the burglary in her car.

Jackson later confessed to the burglary, authorities said, but Hartshorn denied the incident.

Jackson, Hartshorn and Wranik were all being held at the Pasco County jail on Friday morning on $5,000 bail.