A Canadian woman is facing multiple felony charges for allegedly intercepting a delivery of more than $40,000 in gold and silver jewelry after she was apprehended attempting to cross the border last month.
The alleged theft occurred in May when a Bensalem man reported that he received a text message FedEX delivered the items worth $43,549 to his home on Forrest Avenue but he never received it, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The victim reported the package was being tracked “due to its high value and contents” and it required a signature that stated it was delivered.
The victim reported his wife was outside the home when he received the text
message, but alleged she didn’t sign for it, the affidavit said.
Another family member noticed a young adult woman dressed in all black standing next to a black sedan speaking with a FedEd driver at the corner of Forrest Avenue and Street Road around the time the items were to be delivered, the affidavit said.
When police checked surveillance cameras it confirmed the delivery driver meeting with a woman in a black Nissan sedan. Investigators used intersection cameras, license plate readers, and other surveillance footage to identify the vehicle.
The delivery driver confirmed the woman – later identified as Kaileigh Hogan, 25, of Ontario – blocked his work truck while he was making another delivery on Forrest Avenue, told him the package was for her and signed for it, the affidavit said.
Police confirmed that Hogan rented the vehicle for 24 hours at the Philadelphia Airport. She returned the car after intercepting the package, then flew to Charlotte, North Carolina, then Phoenix, Arizona, the affidavit said.
Hogan was in the U.S. on a valid VISA under her real name, so investigators contacted the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to advise the agency of the outstanding arrest warrant. Federal authorities took her into custody on July 5 as she attempted to cross into Canada through Lewiston, New York.
The affidavit did not provide details on how Hogan knew what was in the package or the victim.
Her attorney, Paul Lang, said that his client disputes all the charges against her.
She was arraigned before District Judge Michael Gallagher on felony charges of forgery, unlawful taking and theft by deception. She was transferred to Bucks County Correctional Center in lieu of $1 million bail.
Crime and Courts Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Canadian woman arrested in $40K jewelry heist in Bensalem
