Authorities say a retired sheriff’s deputy posed as a guest at two Phoenix-area weddings to steal boxes of cards containing thousands of dollars, and is under investigation in a series of similar crimes.
This undated booking photo provided by the Chandler Police shows Landon Earl Rankin, 54, who was arrested Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in two thefts of wedding gifts at private venues in April and was being held without bond, according to Chandler police and court and jail records. According to Chandler police, each of the two stolen wedding card boxes contained between $3,000 and $6,000.
Rankin was jailed on suspicion of two counts of burglary. He also was booked on several drug possession and drug paraphernalia offenses because he had amphetamine and fentanyl on him when he was arrested, police said.Surveillance video from one of the Chandler wedding venues showed Rankin grabbing the gift box, placing it in a bag, walking out the venue's rear door, running to his vehicle and driving away, police said in a probable-cause statement.