Man Pretends To Be A Wedding Guest & Steals $3K From Gift Boxes In Arizona

Former Sheriff’s Deputy Pretends To Be A Wedding Guest And Steals $3000 From Gift Boxes In Arizona

A former sheriff’s deputy is facing charges after he was accused of pretending to be a wedding guest and stealing several gifts at two separate weddings in Arizona.

On Wednesday, Landon Earl Rankin,54, was arrested and charged with two counts of burglary in addition to possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine while he was taken into custody.

Investigators of the Chandler Police Department said he attended the weddings back in April and pretended to be a guest. During the receptions, he would steal the wedding card boxes that contained between $3,000 to $6,000 in each box.

 

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A video also captured Rankin taking a card box from one of the weddings before fleeing the scene in his vehicle.

During his interview with police, Rankin claimed he attended the weddings to hear vows because he was “going through a divorce.”

Sgt. Jason McClimans said in a statement that there were several other similar crimes that took place within the area. He is currently under investigation for those crimes after four or five other couples reported the thefts to the police.

*Press Release*
An investigation into a male who victimized couples on their wedding day, stealing thousands of dollars, has resulted in an arrest. The Chandler Police Department arrested 54-year-old Landon Earl Rankin on May 4, 2022. pic.twitter.com/uUkBZSpAFp

— Chandler Police (@ChandlerPolice) May 6, 2022