Avon Police: Baby Formula Thefts Are 'An Ongoing Issue'

Two individuals involved in an attempt to shoplift baby formula from Big Y in Avon were arrested on larceny charges in February.

Avon police say that type of crime is not uncommon.

Angela Mangino, 43, of Windsor, and Troy Dwayne Whitehead, 44, of Hartford, tried to walk out of Big Y with a $16.49 container of Enfamil, police said. Police recovered the baby formula.

When asked if Avon police have seen a rise in baby formula thefts, Avon police Lt. Kelly Walsh said, “this has been an ongoing issue for years."

According to police, people steal Enfamil typically to sell it at 30 percent of store value.

Many stores now lock baby formula in cases to prevent thefts.

Mangino and Whitehead were charged with conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny just after 4 p.m. on Feb. 17. Mangino was also charged with sixth-degree larceny. Both were released on $500 non-surety bonds.

Whitehead was arrested on a violation of probation charge that day too due to an outstanding warrant for a separate case. Police issued him a $10,000 bond for that charge. 

Mangino is slated to appear in Hartford Community Court again on March 12 and a judge awaits her plea. Whitehead has not entered a plea yet and is scheduled to appear in Hartford Community Court on March 14