RUMFORD – A fugitive from justice in Tennessee was nabbed Tuesday in Rumford by police investigating similarities in a series of July thefts from Rumford to Auburn.

Judith A. Nicholson, 42, of 25 Hartford St. was arrested by officer Douglas Maifeld and charged with two counts of theft, one count of misuse of identification, and being a fugitive from justice.

Mexico police charged her with one count of theft and Auburn police want to talk to her about thefts there, Rumford Detective Lt. Wayne Gallant said.

However, after learning that Nicholson was wanted by Tennessee police, she was transported to Oxford County Jail in Paris, where she waived extradition and is awaiting transport back to Tennessee.

“The sad thing about that is she probably will never come back here, although there will be arrest warrants if she does. But at least we were able to get the culprit and her criminal activities have been stopped,” he said late Thursday afternoon.

Rumford police began to focus on Nicholson this week when they noticed several similarities between female suspects in Rumford, Mexico and Auburn theft cases.

Gallant said he investigated a July 30 theft of a $210 purple kaleidoscope from Bartash’s, a Congress Street gift shop.

“The clerk knew she hadn’t sold it because they only had two, a red one and a purple one, which was missing. She gave us a description of the people in the store that day,” Gallant added.

While he was working that case, fellow officer Peter Casey was investigating the July 13 theft of a purse from the Rumford Eagles Club. Then they learned that a credit card taken from the purse was used that same day to buy $800 worth of items, including a 55-gallon fish aquarium from Wal-Mart in Mexico.

“She apparently stole another purse that day from a Mexico woman at Wal-Mart and then drove to Auburn where she used a credit card from the second purse to buy stuff. Then she stole a purse at T.J. Maxx clothing store in Auburn from a Raymond woman and, using one of her credit cards, came back to Mexico. She used the card right up and threw it away,” Gallant said.

After viewing store surveillance tapes and comparing notes with Casey, Gallant said similarities in the female suspect from each case led him to believe that Nicholson was their suspect.

He then took Maifeld and Casey to Bartash’s to view the lone kaleidoscope so they’d know what to watch for and all three went to Nicholson’s residence at 25 Hartford St.

“It was the basic ‘Knock and Talk’ scenario. We went to her apartment and were asked to step in. And the first thing we see after being invited in is a 55-gallon fish aquarium. And then, in a glass display case, there was the purple kaleidoscope, and we thought, ‘Aha!'” Gallant said.

After Nicholson was arrested and booked, Gallant ran her name through a nationwide police system for wanted suspects.

“Lo and behold, Tennessee had active arrest warrants on her for credit card scams and misuse of identification. Luckily for us, Tennessee wants her.

“She is a professional criminal who has traveled the country. She’s got a (criminal) history and has been very active in this state. It looks like she’s a career criminal and one who has experience.

“She steals in one location and drives 40 to 50 miles to use a stolen credit card. She knew enough to use the credit cards as soon as possible. After one use of each credit card, she disposes of them,” Gallant said.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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