A couple from Connecticut was arrested for stealing nearly $1 million worth of Lululemon merchandise during a two-month theft spree across multiple states, according to police.
Jadion Richards, 44, and Akwele Lawes-Richards, 45, were apprehended on Nov. 14 after allegedly stealing high-end fitness wear from stores in Minnesota, Utah, Colorado, New York, and Connecticut since September, as stated in a criminal complaint obtained by various news outlets.
The alleged crime spree came to a halt when Lululemon investigators noticed a significant loss in stolen items after the couple triggered a security alarm while leaving a store in Woodbury, Minnesota.
Richards claimed that store employees racially profiled him, but the company investigator reported that the couple had stolen at least 45 items valued at $5,000 from various locations the day before.
Upon their arrest, officers found multiple credit and debit cards, as well as a Marriott hotel room key, leading to the discovery of 12 suitcases containing Lululemon products worth approximately $50,000, according to the complaint.
The company investigator estimated that the couple had stolen up to $1 million in merchandise, although the exact methodology behind this calculation was not detailed in the complaint.
Most products at Lululemon can range from over $50 for clothing, with items like sweatshirts costing upwards of $130.
Lululemon’s vice president of asset production stated to NBC 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.”
“We remain dedicated to continuing these efforts to address and prevent this industry-wide issue,” the statement added.
The couple employed various tactics to steal products, such as distracting store employees while one person concealed the merchandise under their clothing and jackets, as detailed in the complaint.
According to USA Today, the couple, who reside in Danbury, Connecticut, were also linked to eight thefts in Colorado in October and seven thefts in Utah earlier in the same month.
The duo each faced charges of organized retail theft.
Following their arrests, they were booked at Ramsey County Jail in Minnesota, but both managed to post bail – Lawes-Richards on Tuesday and Richards on Thursday, as reported by NBC.
They are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 16.
