A Connecticut couple, Jadion Anthony Richards, 44, and Akwele Nickeisha Lawes-Richards, 45, have been charged in Minnesota with being part of a shoplifting ring suspected of stealing around $1 million worth of goods from Lululemon stores nationwide. The pair, who were released on bail after posting $100,000 for Richards and $30,000 for Lawes-Richards, are due back in court on December 16.
According to investigators, the couple was tracked by a Lululemon investigator before being confronted by police at a store in suburban Roseville. The investigator reported that the pair was responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses across the country through their scheme, which involved stealing items and making fraudulent returns.
Police found over $50,000 worth of stolen Lululemon clothing in the couple’s hotel room. The investigation also revealed that the pair was part of a group that would travel to different cities, hit multiple stores for two days, and then return to the East Coast to exchange items without receipts.
The scheme involved Richards buying cheap items and removing security sensors from other stolen goods. Lawes-Richards and another woman would then conceal leggings under their clothing as they left the store. The pair’s actions fooled staff into thinking it was Richards’ sensor that had set off the alarm, allowing them to escape with the stolen goods.
The charges against the couple are being prosecuted under a state law enacted last year aimed at cracking down on organized retail theft. The law has been effective in bringing down similar operations in 34 states across the country.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/lululemon-shoplifting-ring-charges-minnesota-connecticut-fa8fb5d9112c0439768fd91382d4f10a