Four people behind bars following warehouse electronics theft

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Four people are behind bars after law enforcement agencies on both sides of the state line work together to recover stolen electronics.

Court documents show the stolen items were taken from a warehouse near the Kansas City International Airport.

“Most law enforcement agencies are working together almost on a daily basis,” Lenexa Police Ofc. Danny Chavez said.

“This happened to be a larger case involving thousands and thousands of dollars’ worth of stolen goods.”

A now-former employee stole more than $206,000 worth of electronics from a warehouse at Forward Air, according to court documents.

Four people are facing charges after ten pallets, holding hundreds of electronics, were stolen from the Forward Air warehouse near KCI.

Court documents show KCIPD investigators saw video surveillance of Ryan Baker stealing the electronics, confirming Baker as the suspect. A witness also said he was able to identify Baker as the suspect through the video surveillance as the person suspected of stealing the electronics.

Some of the stolen items include more than 300 tablets, nearly 500 Nintendo switches, about one hundred doorbell cameras and more.

Baker is charged with stealing. Court documents show he told police he was a former forklift operator at Forward. Baker said a friend convinced him the company treated him poorly.

He lives with Stephanie Elton and Kelsey Brightwell in Platte City. They’re charged with receiving stolen property.

Brightwell also admitted to attempting to sell a Nintendo Switch, but police were on the other end.

Platte Co. Sheriff’s Deputies found more than $8,200 worth of electronics at the house, according to court documents.

Baker told investigators, he sold several electronics in Clay Co. and Overland Park.

He said he also traded numerous electronics for a Yamaha Street Bike to a person who lived in Lenexa.

KCIPD and Lenexa Police arrested a person who was attempting to sell the stolen electronics on Facebook Marketplace, according to court documents.

“We received a tip from another police agency that had seen these items for sale on Facebook Marketplace.

Lenexa Police Officer Danny Chavez said they caught 26-year-old Nathan Schwartz selling the stolen items.

He’s charged with theft, possession of meth and drug paraphernalia.

Detectives set up an undercover buy at an extended stay, off Lenexa Drive, and found the stolen items in Schwartz’s hotel room; more than one hundred tablets and about 130 Nintendo Switches.

Schwartz’s attorney tells me they’ve set the case for a potential plea on Oct. 17.

Court documents show, KCIPD was able to recover more than 133-thousand dollars’ worth of the stolen electronics.

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