January 7, 2005 Update

There have been several Retail Fraud incidents in recent days. Some of these shoplifters were combative and assaulted Loss Prevention Officers (LPOs). In one Oakland Mall store alone, there were at least three separate shoplifting incidents:

2 black males removed two suits from a display rack and left the store.

LPOs observed two females stuffing items into empty shopping bags that they had concealed under their shirts. When approached, they threw their bags at the LPOs and ran. One suspect escaped to a white Dodge Intrepid and fled. The second suspect was located and arrested by Police after punching, kicking, and biting LPOs and escaping to the parking lot.

LPOs observed a woman pushing a man in a wheel chair. She was concealing clothing behind the man in the wheelchair. They were stopped as they left the store without paying.

At Mid-Town-Square, Troy Police Officers responded to a report of man and woman team stealing clothing and shoes. When Officers confronted the couple, they fled in opposite directions. The woman was caught after a short foot chase. The man was later arrested from his nearby apartment still wearing the stolen shoes.