Details of large-scale Overland Park theft investigation are revealed

A Facebook post advertising for sale more than 1,000 items of women’s clothing brought an Overland Park woman to the attention of police.

A visit by undercover detectives to her upscale home and days of surveillance led to her arrest and a felony charge of stealing more than $100,000 in merchandise.

Recently released court documents describe the Overland Park police investigation that resulted in the seizure of truckloads of allegedly stolen clothing and other items from the home of Kelli Jo Bauer.

Officers still are working to catalog all the items taken from Bauer’s home two weeks ago, an Overland Park police spokesman said Wednesday.

Police arrested Bauer, 45, on April 1 after detectives tailed her for several days and allegedly saw her stealing items from several stores, according to documents filed in Johnson County District Court.

According to the documents, police began investigating March 23 when the Facebook posting tipped them off to the sale of “high-end” clothing. While looking at online photographs, a detective noticed some items still carried original price tags.

Police posing as potential customers contacted Bauer. She invited them into her home in the 13700 block of Horton Drive and led them to an upstairs bedroom.

There the officers saw a rack like ones used in department stores “filled with hanging clothing.” Stacks of folded clothes rested on a bed. Many items still had store stickers and price tags.

Bauer told the police that she was selling the items because she was a “compulsive shopper” and had lost weight. She told them there was more merchandise downstairs, including an armful of purses she showed them.

The officers bought several items, including what Bauer said was a fake Louis Vuitton bag for $50.

Detectives began following Bauer on March 26. After Bauer’s arrest, police spent two days searching her home.

She is under house arrest as a condition of bond. Her next court hearing is scheduled for April 30.

Her attorney said Wednesday he had no comment.

This story was originally published April 15, 2015 at 1:38 PM with the headline "Details of large-scale Overland Park theft investigation are revealed."