Two people from Connecticut are facing charges after the authorities asserted that they were part of a theft ring that stole nearly $1 million worth of merchandise from Lululemon stores across the nation.
Last September, Lululemon stores in Edina, Minneapolis, and Minnetonka, Minnesota, were the first known targets of an alleged theft scheme. Additional Lululemon stores in Colorado, Utah, Connecticut, and New York state reported that they experienced thefts as well, and the authorities believed the same suspects were involved in all the incidents.
The police believed the suspects would enter each store and remove a security tag from one of the lower-priced items while stashing merchandise under their shirts. After placing the tag on more costly merchandise, one of the suspects would make a small purchase. All the suspects would exit the stores at the same time, so when the security alarms went off, the purchaser would return to the counter with the tagged item while the other suspects walked away without incident.
On November 13, two men and a woman went into a Lululemon store in Roseville and allegedly stole approximately $5,000 worth of merchandise. When they exited the shop, the alarm went off. One of the men reportedly accused the employees of racially profiling him and said he did not take anything, and they allowed the trio to leave.
The following day, local police found the woman and one of the men at a Lululemon in Woodbury and took them into custody.
The pair was booked into the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center. According to records, they were initially arrested on felony theft charges, but they are now facing formal charges of felony organized retail theft.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a theft offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.