We guess this is one way to do your holiday shopping..Police arrested a Minnesota couple in Minnesota who allegedly steal items from Lululemon, the high-end women’s athletic clothing store, and make fraudulent returns.
Jadion Richards, 44, and Akwele Lawes-Richards, 45 were both charged with one felony count of organized retail theft for their role in a suspected organized shoplifting ring. According to official reports, the Lululemon heist has been going on for two months; a company investigator worked to track them down before the police got involved.
Once confronted in the store, Richards allegedly accused store employees of racially profiling him, according to the criminal complaint. But, it was the investigator who recognized the couple for stealing at least 45 items worth $5,000 from several locations the day before.
When Minnesota police arrested the duo on Nov. 14, officers also searched their hotel room in Bloomington, Minn. There, they found a dozen suitcases with $50,000 worth of Lululemon clothes — all with the price tags still attached, according to Newsweek.
The Richards, who are originally from Connecticut, are accused of stealing $1 million in Lululemon merchandise in multiple states including Minnesota, Colorado, New York and Utah, according to the New York Post.
The Lululemon investigator said the couple was part of a group that would travel across the country, rob local Lululemon stores, and then return to the East Coast to exchange the items with no receipts. Finally, with the “exchanged” receipts, they would “return” the items for credit card refunds, according to the complaint obtained by AP News.
“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,” Tristen Shields, Lululemon’s vice president of asset protection, said in a statement. “We remain dedicated to continuing these efforts to address and prevent this industrywide issue.”
Last week, the married couple posted bail of $100,000 for him and $30,000 for her, court records report. They are scheduled to return to Ramsey County District Court in St. Paul on Dec. 16.