Retail Theft Spree: Calvert Detectives Unravel Multi-County Theft Scheme

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — A Baltimore County man was arrested and charged on Dec. 9, 2025, and remains held without bond after deputies linked him to a multi-county retail theft scheme involving thousands of dollars in stolen cosmetics and merchandise from major retailers across Maryland, according to charging documents filed in Calvert County District Court.

Costinel Tiberiade, 36, of Gwynn Oak, faces two felony counts of theft valued at $1,500 to under $25,000, two counts of fourth-degree burglary, and one felony count of organized retail theft.

According to the statement of probable cause, deputies were called Nov. 15 to a CVS store in Dunkirk after employees reported a shoplifting incident. Investigators said the suspect filled a shopping bag with cosmetics and left the store without paying, stealing merchandise valued at approximately $1,828. Surveillance images later identified the suspect as Tiberiade.

Later that same day, detectives connected a second theft at a CVS in Chesapeake Beach, where store records showed $2701.42 in merchandise missing. The stolen items included dozens of high-value beauty products, including makeup, powders and lipsticks.

As the investigation widened, deputies identified a gray Toyota Sienna registered in Virginia as the vehicle involved in the thefts using license plate reader data. Detectives tracked the vehicle to an apartment in Calvert County and coordinated with retail crime units in Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Howard, Prince George’s and Baltimore counties, where similar thefts were reported throughout November at stores including Safeway, Giant, Marshalls and HomeGoods.

Charging documents state the case developed through a weeks-long investigation involving surveillance, license plate reader analysis and coordination among multiple law enforcement agencies.

Search warrants executed Dec. 8 at the Calvert County apartment and Dec. 9 on the Toyota Sienna led to the recovery of additional evidence. Police reported finding $1,509 in suspected stolen merchandise inside the vehicle, including items matching products reported missing from several stores.

Investigators said the thefts followed an organized pattern in which suspects traveled between counties, targeted high-value retail goods and used shared vehicles to transport stolen merchandise.

District Court Judge Andrea R. S. Watkins ordered Tiberiade held without bond during a bail review hearing on Dec. 10. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 8, 2026.

If convicted, Tiberiade faces up to five years in prison on each felony theft count, up to 10 years on the organized retail theft charge, and up to three years in prison on each fourth-degree burglary count, under Maryland law.

Authorities said the alleged offenses occurred between Nov. 15 and Dec. 3, 2025, and the investigation remains ongoing.

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