New Jersey man, Filipina wife nabbed for online theft

Kimy Velasquez and his wife, Romela Velasquez were accused of hacking into the Lowes portal to get expensive goods for free. DEPT OF MOTOR VEHICLES

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey — A man and his Filipina wife from Brick Township were arrested Aug. 3 for hacking into the Lowes online portal to receive goods for free at their home.

According to a press release from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the two suspects — Kimy Velazquez, 40, and his wife, Romela, 24, tried to steal goods worth $258,068, but only successfully received around $12,971worth of merchandise.

Romela Velazquez is a Filipino immigrant. The two have a two-year-old daughter.

Armed with a search warrant for the suspects’ home, Brick Township Police officers said the residence looked “more of a warehouse than a home.” Police officers recovered enough merchandise to fill an 18-foot trailer.

Most items were in their original packaging and still had their price tags. Below is a list of the most expensive items found at the couple’s home:

3 Dyson Ball Vacuum Cleaners
70” Vizio LED Smart TV
Aluminum Gazebo
Approximately $2,500 Victoria Secret Underwear
Dewalt Power Washer
Honda Lawn Mower
LG Portable Air Conditioner
Multiple Boxes of Ugg Shoes
Multiple Boxes of furniture (not put together)
Nikon D5000 Camera
Sony Stero Surround Sound System with 4 Speakers
Stainless Steel Weber Grill

Romela Velazquez allegedly took advantage of a flaw in the Lowes website to have unpaid goods delivered to the couple’s residence. She allegedly posted ads for some of the stolen goods on a Facebook group used to buy and sell used objects, at half the price offered on the Lowes website.

The couple was charged and released pending a future court date. Romela Velazquez’s lawyer said she’ll fight the charges, saying she did not have the skills to hack Lowes website and only had a knack for buying at low prices.

Romela was charged with 2nd-degree Computer Criminal Activity for accessing a computer system with the purpose to defraud, 2nd-degree Theft by Deception. Kimy Velasquez was charged with 3rd-degree receipt of stolen property and 3rd-degree fencing.