Columbiana woman accused in $4K Boardman Lego shoplifiting

Anna Elise Stone

 A Columbiana woman has been arrested after allegedly attempting to steal over $1,500 worth of Lego sets and clothing from a Boardman store. Authorities said she is also accused of three other thefts totaling more than $2,400.

Anna Elise Stone, 33, of Columbiana, was taken into custody last week after loss prevention employees at a store on Boardman Poland Road reported a shoplifting in progress. According to the police report, officers were advised that a woman, later identified as Stone, was loading a cart with Lego sets, a tactic she had reportedly used in previous incidents.

The report redacted the name of the store. However, the address, 417 Boardman Poland Road, comes back to the Target store in the Shops at Boardman Park.

Police said that when officers arrived, they saw Stone leaving the store. An employee reportedly yelled to police that she was known for prior thefts totaling more than $2,800.

Stone allegedly filled a shopping cart primarily with Lego sets last Thursday and walked past the registers without paying. She was stopped in the store's vestibule but fled, leaving the cart behind, and was apprehended by officers.

The cart contained three items of clothing and 25 Lego sets, with a combined value of $1,541.25. Stone was arrested and transported to the Mahoning County Jail.

The following day, May 30, a loss prevention officer from the store met with the Boardman police to report three additional thefts attributed to Stone. These incidents allegedly occurred on:

• April 6: Four Lego sets valued at $539.96.
• April 9: Eight Lego sets valued at $822.92.
• May 20: 20 Lego sets valued at $1,121.90.

The total value of all alleged thefts attributed to Stone by the store is $4,026.01.

Stone was formally charged with felony theft and was brought to Mahoning County Court. She claimed indigence, and the court ordered the appointment of an attorney.

Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 1.