D-Bat Theft | North Carolina women arrested, accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of baseball bats

ASHEVILLE, North Carolina — Three women accused of stealing D-BAT bats were arrested by Asheville police on June 23 near the Asheville store.

“Officers responded and a D-BAT employee chased three women who had stolen high-quality baseball bats from a baseball practice facility,” Asheville Police Senior Officer Kermit Smith told ABC station WLOS. “The employee chased them to Ascot Point Circle, where they hid in some bushes. Officers located them.”

At 2:23 p.m., Asheville officers responded to a report of three women accused of stealing bats from D-BAT at 1262 Hendersonville Road. Asheville police said the three women fled on foot.

All three, Veronica Constantin, 41, Alexandra Lonescu, 31, and Jennifer Antonesco, 21, were charged with theft.

WATCH | Woman Steals, Hides Expensive Baseball Bats Up Skirt in Huntersville

The company posted a video on social media in hopes someone will help identify the women.

They were accused of stealing baseball bats worth an estimated $3,850.

“They are connected to similar cases throughout North Carolina,” Smith said.

On June 24, Charlotte media contacted Asheville police about the theft of bats from several D-BAT locations in the Charlotte area, including Concord and Huntersville, according to a June 26 Asheville Police press release.

Veronica Constantin, 41 (left), Alexandra Lonescu, 31, and Jennifer Antonesco, 21, were charged with theft.

“People or a group will come together and they can commit crimes that create a pattern for them,” Smith explained, saying the women can be part of a larger operation. “If something becomes too expensive and people can’t afford it, they start stealing. Usually with these organized rings, they have a specific goal, what they’re looking for.”

Surveillance video obtained by WSOC-TV in Charlotte shows three women hiding bats in their skirts at a D-BAT store in Huntersville.

“(Bats) usually don’t have serial numbers and are easy to get rid of on the Internet,” Smith said. “Anyone who has a child playing soccer knows how expensive this equipment can be.”

Asheville police said they contacted agencies in other municipalities to inform them of the arrests.

Police said all three were booked into the Buncombe County Jail on June 23 with bail set at $5,000. The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office said all three were in a relationship.