Ex-security guard charged in high dollar theft of holiday show at Crossroads Mall
OMAHA, Neb.- Dec 20 2017
Dozens of vendors already had their products set up for the December 10th holiday trade show at the Crossroads Mall the night before.
They thought their items were safe since it was under 24 hour security.
But police arrested the security guard, Christopher Martinmaas, 32, and are looking for two other thieves.
“This whole time he’s supposed to be doing his rounds ,” Gerard Smieja said.
Little did Martinmaas and two others realize, there were three surveillance cameras set up in the closed wing of the Crossroads Mall.
The video shows Martinmaas going through the merchandise, riding a bike, drinking Cognac and helping the two others.
“This is the one day you prepare for all year long and to turn out the guy that’s protecting the place is your thief,” Terri Smieja said.
Smieja owns ITEX Expo. She spends months looking for products and securing vendors for the holiday trade show.
She had 38 vendors and 90 tables of Christmas crafts, jewelry, purses and other high-end items part of the show. Many of the expensive items were stolen.
“We’re talking a chinchilla coat, a blue fox, diamonds chocolate, cognac,” Smieja said.
Just before 4 am, Martinmaas lets in a couple, who goes on their own shopping spree for almost two hours.
“It’s as though they went personally Christmas shopping for their families and this is how they did it,” Smieja said.
The couple loaded up the carefully chosen inventory onto flatbed and made several trips outside. When Smieja and other vendors showed up the next morning, they knew something was amiss. They found empty boxes everywhere.
Smieja said she could the vendors when they realized they’d been robbed.
“”Why are all my bows on the floor, wait a minute where are my boxes of chocolate?’ and then somebody else screamed and somebody else started crying and before you know it we had panic,” Smieja said.
As the Smieja’s continue to go through hours of video, they’re discovering more items stolen. They believe they stole hundreds of products worth $30-50,000.
Statement from Frontline Security Co-owner and Officer, Jacob Bettin:
“We apologize to the victims for the inconvenience this theft has caused them. After learning of the incident, we took quick action, working with the Omaha Police Department, to terminate the individual and turn him over to police detectives.
We expect and are requesting for the individual(s) arrested, to be convicted and sentenced accordingly. This incident is not representative of our security company, that has been locally owned by law enforcement for 14 years.”
Martinmaas goes to court in January for felony theft charges. If you recognize the couple in the video, call Crimestoppers at 402-444-STOP.
KETV
