What should be a simple trip to your local Target or CVS can be a pain in the ass these days when everything from body wash to aspirin to baby formula is locked up like the Crown Jewels behind the register for “theft prevention.” But what happens when the police are the ones who have the sticky fingers?
On Dec. 7, law enforcement in Nassau County arrested New York City police sergeant Rayna Madho after she was caught shoplifting cough medicine at a Target store in the Long Island community of Valley Stream.
And because nothing should surprise us anymore, you should know this wasn’t her first time: According to The New York Times, Madho was charged with two counts of petty larceny for the Dec. 7 incident and another incident on Nov. 24.
According to the police, Madho was using the store’s self-checkout register but didn’t scan all of her items. An employee stopped her before she could make it out of the store with the stolen items. The Daily Mail reports Madho was trying to get away without paying for $15 worth of cough medicine, including Zarbee’s Cough Syrup and Ricola Cough Drops. If you’re scratching your head right now, you’re not alone.
Born in Trinidad, Madho has been with the NYPD since 2006. She currently works with the Special Investigations Unit photographic squad, where she earned over $200,000 in 2024, including base pay and overtime, according to The Daily Mail.
Madho has endured several civilian complaints as well, including excessive force and abuse of authority, according to the Times. New York’s Civilian Complaint Review Board exonerated her for one complaint and determined the others were nfounded or unsubstantiated.
After her arrest, Sergeant Madho was suspended without pay by the NYPD, according to the New York Daily News. Her arraignment is set for Dec. 27.