An Ontario, Canada, woman accused of stealing a FedEx package in Pennsylvania containing about $44,000 in gold and silver made her getaway by flying to Arizona.
Authorities don't know what the woman did after arriving at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on May 11, but she's been in jail since July 5, when she attempted to cross into Canada from New York. Records don't indicate she had the gold and silver in her possession during the arrest. But the victim, who isn't being named in this article, said he had insured the contents with the company that sold him the precious metals, APEX, and he was fully reimbursed.
Police in Bensalem Township want to see Kaileigh Hogan, who's 25, charged with three felony counts, including theft by deception,
theft by unlawful taking and forgery.
The victim had been tracking the package due to its high value on May 11 and received a text alert just after 1 p.m. that the package was delivered, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by The Arizona Republic from the Bucks County Magisterial District Court of Judge Michael Gallagher.
Yet the victim hadn't signed for the package as required. His daughter was "down the street" on her way home and later said she saw a black-haired woman wearing all black clothes standing next to a black sedan and a FedEx truck.
The FedEx driver later told police the woman blocked his truck with her car, approached him, claimed the package was hers and signed for it using the victim's last name, the affidavit states.
The police investigation included a review of data and videos from license-plate readers and cameras at intersections and other locations. Police soon figured out the car had been rented at the Philadelphia International Airport by Hogan, the affidavit states. After obtaining the package, Hogan dropped off the rental car at the airport and flew to Charlotte, North Carolina, then Phoenix.
Investigators believe Sky Harbor was the final destination of her flight, but they "don't know what the importance of Arizona was or what she did from there," said Bensalem Township police Sgt. Matt Malcolm.
Judge Gallagher's court issued a warrant for Hogan's arrest. Police received word on July 5 that Hogan had been arrested trying to enter Canada from Lewiston, New York. Asked if she was caught with the gold and silver, Malcolm said, "I don't believe she had it in her possession."
Hogan was extradited to Pennsylvania on July 31 and was being held on $100,000 bail. The Toronto Sun newspaper reported that Hogan is from Beamsville, Ontario.
Reach the reporter at rstern@arizonarepublic.com or 480-276-3237. Follow him on X @raystern.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Canadian suspected in gold and silver theft made getaway to Arizona
