2 NY Men Caught In Bristol With More Than 3,200 Stolen Gift Cards: Police

BRISTOL, RI — Bristol officers arrested two New York men who police said stole more than 3,200 gift cards from various stores throughout Rhode Island.

Li Wei, 36, and Li Shanhua, 48, both of Queens, New York, were charged with obtaining money under false pretenses and conspiracy.

Bristol police said they arrested the men Thursday after responding to a call about a suspicious man near the gift card rack at the CVS Pharmacy on Metacom Avenue. Store security approached the man, who then ran away, according to police. Police said a witness told officers the man ran towards a car in the parking lot, but he ran past the car, and the driver eventually took off.

Police found the vehicle parked on a nearby street. Officers spoke with the driver, who police identified as Wei. According to police, Wei had boxes containing large amounts of gift cards on his passenger seat.

Officers placed Wei in custody and brought him in for questioning. Police said they later learned gift card tampering had been an ongoing issue across Rhode Island. It had been reported numerous times in the past month, according to police.

Shanhua was later arrested after investigators determined he was the man who ran from the pharmacy, police said. Following the two arrests, police said U.S. Homeland Security agents and Bristol detectives seized more than 3,200 gift cards.

Wei and Shanhua were ordered held on $5,000 and $10,000 surety bail. Police said both men will likely face additional charges.

Have a news tip? Email jimmy.bentley@patch.com.