Authorities charge woman with seafood theft (with video)

PHOTOGRAPHER: Edward Munger Jr.

One of two women allegedly caught on surveillance video stealing 90 pounds of seafood in Palatine Bridge was arrested on Tuesday, an investigator said today.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Barry Serpa said Heather Rimmer, 32, of Maryland Avenue, Utica, was charged with felony fourth-degree grand larceny and attempted petty larceny, a misdemeanor.

A second suspect is expected to turn herself in today, Serpa said.

The felony charge relates to the Feb. 6 theft at the Price Chopper on state Route 5 where two women were videotaped loading up a cart with frozen seafood about 10:30 p.m..

Authorities said the pair made off with 55 pounds of shrimp and 35 pounds of scallops valued at $1,085 (see attached video).

Authorities believe the pair returned to the same store again on May 3. Video surveillance provided by police showed two women with carts loaded with merchandise attempted to leave the store without paying, but were stopped by a locked exit door.

Serpa said Rimmer’s likeness to one of the women caught on video is unmistakable. He said Rimmer said she needed the food to feed her family.

“The one said she was doing it for her kids, getting food for the house,” Serpa said.

Rimmer was turned over to the Otsego County Sheriff’s Department, which is investigating a similar crime in Richfield Springs, Serpa said.