WOODBURY, MN - A Connecticut couple Jadion Richards, 44, and Akwele Lawes-Richards, 45, were arrested in Woodbury, Minnesota on November 14 after a two-month spree of robberies targeting high-end retailer Lululemon locations in Minnesota, Utah, Colorado, New York, and Connecticut since September. Between the two, they allegedly stole over $1 million in merchandise according to a criminal complaint obtained by CBS News.
According to the outlet, the Ramsey County Attorney's Office said the couple from Danbury, Connecticut are charged with one felony count each of organized retail theft. A spokesman for the attorney's office said in a statement, “Because of the outstanding work of the Roseville Police investigators — including their new Retail Crime Unit — as well as other law enforcement agencies, these individuals accused of this massive retail theft operation have been caught. We will do everything in our power to hold these defendants accountable and continue to work with our law enforcement partners and retail merchants to put a stop to retail theft in our community.”
The couple’s arrest came one day after the two triggered alarms while attempting to leave a Roseville, MN store. An organized retail crime investigator reportedly recognized them, and they were allowed to leave the store.
The investigator told a responding police officer that the pair are seasoned shoplifters and carried off approximately $5,000 in merchandise in that one incident. He told police they were potentially “responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in loss to the store across the country,” in the criminal complaint. The complaint also referred to an unidentified second woman as an accomplice.
"The group worked together using specific organized retail crime tactics such as blocking and distraction of associates to commit large thefts," the complaint said per CBS. "They selected coats and jackets and held them up as if they were looking at them in a manner that blocked the view of staff and other guests while they selected and concealed items. They removed security sensors using a tool of some sort at multiple stores."
As reported by The New York Post, the suspects were taken into custody in possession of several credit and debit cards and a room key for a nearby Marriot Hotel where investigators found a dozen suitcases loaded with Lululemon merchandise worth approximately $50,000.
Lululemon’s vice president of asset production, Tristen Shields, said in a statement to the outlet, “This outcome continues to underscore our ongoing collaboration with law enforcement and our investments in advanced technology, team training, and investigative capabilities to combat retail crime and hold offenders accountable. We remain dedicated to continuing these efforts to address and prevent this industry-wide issue.”
Reporting from USA Today stated that Richards and Lawes-Richards are also accused of eight thefts in Colorado from October and seven in Utah in early November. Richards’ bail was set at $100,000 with conditional release, including weekly check-ins, or $600,000 with unconditional release while Lawes-Richards’ bail was somewhat lower at $30,000 with conditional release and weekly check-ins or $200,000 with unconditional release. Both reportedly made bail and are due in court on December 16th. The attorney's office stated that prosecutors requested $1 million bond be placed on each suspect.
According to the outlet, the Ramsey County Attorney's Office said the couple from Danbury, Connecticut are charged with one felony count each of organized retail theft. A spokesman for the attorney's office said in a statement, “Because of the outstanding work of the Roseville Police investigators — including their new Retail Crime Unit — as well as other law enforcement agencies, these individuals accused of this massive retail theft operation have been caught. We will do everything in our power to hold these defendants accountable and continue to work with our law enforcement partners and retail merchants to put a stop to retail theft in our community.”
The couple’s arrest came one day after the two triggered alarms while attempting to leave a Roseville, MN store. An organized retail crime investigator reportedly recognized them, and they were allowed to leave the store.
The investigator told a responding police officer that the pair are seasoned shoplifters and carried off approximately $5,000 in merchandise in that one incident. He told police they were potentially “responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in loss to the store across the country,” in the criminal complaint. The complaint also referred to an unidentified second woman as an accomplice.
"The group worked together using specific organized retail crime tactics such as blocking and distraction of associates to commit large thefts," the complaint said per CBS. "They selected coats and jackets and held them up as if they were looking at them in a manner that blocked the view of staff and other guests while they selected and concealed items. They removed security sensors using a tool of some sort at multiple stores."
Conn. couple stole nearly $1M of Lululemon merch in nation-wide theft scheme: cops https://t.co/iNXwVj9OuZ pic.twitter.com/ZdWvCqxbcy
— New York Post (@nypost) November 24, 2024
As reported by The New York Post, the suspects were taken into custody in possession of several credit and debit cards and a room key for a nearby Marriot Hotel where investigators found a dozen suitcases loaded with Lululemon merchandise worth approximately $50,000.
Lululemon’s vice president of asset production, Tristen Shields, said in a statement to the outlet, “This outcome continues to underscore our ongoing collaboration with law enforcement and our investments in advanced technology, team training, and investigative capabilities to combat retail crime and hold offenders accountable. We remain dedicated to continuing these efforts to address and prevent this industry-wide issue.”
Reporting from USA Today stated that Richards and Lawes-Richards are also accused of eight thefts in Colorado from October and seven in Utah in early November. Richards’ bail was set at $100,000 with conditional release, including weekly check-ins, or $600,000 with unconditional release while Lawes-Richards’ bail was somewhat lower at $30,000 with conditional release and weekly check-ins or $200,000 with unconditional release. Both reportedly made bail and are due in court on December 16th. The attorney's office stated that prosecutors requested $1 million bond be placed on each suspect.
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