Savannah Best Buy employee says hackers forced him into scheme

pA Best Buy employee in Savannah is accused of letting customers walk out with more than 40000 in unpaid merchandiseppA Best Buy employee in Savannah is accused of letting customers walk out with more than 40000 in unpaid merchandiseppA Best Buy employee in Savannah is accused of letting customers walk out with more than 40000 in unpaid merchandiseppUpdate 5 pmppA 20yearold Best Buy employee is jailed in Savannah after police said he helped a group of suspected shoplifters walk out of the store with more than 40000 in merchandise claiming he was pressured by online blackmail threatsppDorian Allen is charged with theft by taking according to a Savannah Police Department report obtained by WJCLTV Investigators said the losses were tied to repeated thefts at the Best Buy on Abercorn StreetppAllen told officers he was targeted by what he described as a hacker group and received emails identifying shoppers he was instructed to let leave without paying the report said He claimed the senders threatened to release nude photos of him online if he did not comply Police said Allen could not provide names email addresses or physical descriptions of the people he said were blackmailing himppThe investigation gained momentum after Chatham County Sheriff Richard Coleman publicly called out a group of alleged shoplifters on Jan 16 and urged suspects to surrender Savannah police later posted photos of suspects accused of stealing from the storeppAuthorities said the stolen items ranged from small goods to 700 PlayStation consoles Police said three other people connected to the thefts have turned themselves inppColeman condemned the thefts in an interview with WJCL saying That kind of behavior will not be tolerated in Chatham CountyppBest Buy did not respond to a request for comment Police said additional suspects may be identified as the investigation continuesppInitial report ppNew details have come to light following an investigation into a largescale theft ring targeting a Savannah Best Buy storeppA Best Buy employee is accused of letting customers walk out with more than 40000 in unpaid merchandise in a scheme the worker told police was driven by online blackmail according to a Savannah Police Department reportppPolice were called at about 346 pm Dec 26 to the Best Buy at 7929 Abercorn St after store managers and asset protection detained an employee for questioning about a series of thefts the report said Management told an officer the employee had been allowing patrons to leave without paying from early December through as recently as Dec 22ppBelow Sheriff Richard Coleman warns suspects in Best Buy case to surrenderppppThe suspect was identified in the report as Dorian Allen 20 of Savannah The report lists the offense as theft by deception and describes the case as an employee theft investigationppStore officials said the activity was captured on video and provided police with an itemized list of stolen goods The list includes video game consoles and bundles virtual reality headsets headphones computers and accessories televisions and other items along with some lowcost snacks and drinks The report totals the loss at 4073419 and describes 143 products via POS manipulationppAfter being advised of his Miranda rights Allen agreed to speak with the officer the report said Allen told police he was being blackmailed by a hacker group and claimed he received emails directing him to let specific people leave with merchandise without paying including descriptions of what they would be wearing according to the reportppAllen told police he believed the blackmail involved photos of himself he posted on Instagram the report said He also told police an older Black woman approached him at his register around Dec 7 or Dec 8 and said he helped some people load unpaid merchandise into a vehicle he described as a black Hyundai according to the report He could not provide the groups name his email address or descriptions of the individuals involved police saidppA financial crimes detective was expected to follow up and the store was sent an Axon Capture link to upload video evidence the report said Allen was escorted off the property without incident and the officers bodyworn camera was activated according to the reportppThis is a developing story Check back for updatesppTRENDING STORIESppppppHearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sitesp