Town of Culpeper
Press Release
Culpeper police charged a husband and wife with the theft of Easter Seal jars from a drugstore checkout counter last week.
Helen Lorraine Artz, 27 and Joseph Harold Artz, 40 were charged in the thefts. Both reside in the 400 block of S. Main Street.
Helen Artz stands charged with felony third offense petty larceny. She is accused of stealing an Easter Seals jar on May 16.
Joseph Artz faces a misdemeanor charge of petty larceny. He allegedly stole a jar on May 14.
The two thefts combined netted less than $50 in change, police said.
On May 17, the CVS Pharmacy store manager noticed the two Easter Seals jars that sat near the checkout registers were missing. The manager contacted store employees and reviewed video surveillance recorded several days earlier to determine what happened to the jars.
Officer Eric Grant responded to take the report and begin the investigation. Grant recognized Joseph Artz from the video. Helen Artz was developed as suspect in the second theft as the investigation continued.
The couple was arrested late Friday.
Detective Luke Altman assisted with the investigation.
