Thieves targeting high-end sports brands stole approximately $10,000 from Dick’s Sporting Goods in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, leaving customers shocked and authorities baffled.
The theft occurred on Friday around 4:45 pm at the East Gate Square Shopping Center’s Nixon Drive location. The suspects, all wearing masks and four of them carrying merchandise, made off with North Face and Nike items worth $10,000.
Mt. Laurel police released a surveillance photo of one suspect, as well as a picture of his vehicle, a white late-model Acura TLX Type S, in hopes of identifying the perpetrators.
According to FBI data analyzed by the 6abc Data Journalism team, shoplifting cases in New Jersey have increased by over 28% from 2022 to 2023, with organized crime rings like this one becoming more prevalent.
Customers expressed frustration at the brazen nature of the theft. “They just come in five, six, eight people at a time, grab what they want and the security’s not allowed to take ’em out,” said Bill Patterson of Sea Isle City.
The Mt. Laurel police are urging the public to help identify the suspects and bring an end to this organized crime ring.
Source: https://6abc.com/post/mt-laurel-police-seek-5-suspects-10k-theft-dicks-sporting-goods/15665563