ROSEVILLE, MN — Two Connecticut residents have been arrested in connection with an alleged organized retail theft ring targeting Lululemon stores across the country, with reported losses totaling $1 million.
Jadion Richards, 44, and Akwele Lawes-Richards, 45, both of Danbury, were taken into custody on Thursday following an investigation by a Lululemon retail crime investigator and local law enforcement. The arrests stemmed from a reported shoplifting incident at the Lululemon store in Rosedale Center.
The Investigation Unfolds
According to a criminal complaint, the pair set off a security alarm while leaving the Rosedale location but were allowed to leave after Richards accused store employees of racial profiling. It wasn’t until later that police realized the couple had allegedly stolen nearly $5,000 worth of merchandise from the store the previous day.
A Lululemon investigator tracked the suspects to another store in Woodbury, where police apprehended them. Lawes-Richards denied being at Rosedale, and Richards claimed they were staying with a relative, though officers later discovered he had a key card to a hotel room at the JW Marriott in Bloomington.
$50,000 in Stolen Merchandise Discovered
A search warrant for Richards’ hotel room uncovered 12 suitcases containing an estimated $50,000 worth of Lululemon clothing, all with tags still attached. Investigators allege the pair had previously visited Minnesota in September to carry out similar thefts. Between the two trips, they are accused of stealing approximately $30,000 worth of merchandise.
On Nov. 13 alone, the suspects reportedly hit five Lululemon locations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, stealing items from stores in Edina, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, and Roseville.
Sophisticated Scheme
The pair allegedly executed a highly organized theft strategy. Richards would purchase low-cost items while Lawes-Richards and others concealed higher-value merchandise, sometimes using straps to secure the stolen goods under their clothing. The group would manipulate security sensors to avoid detection and ensure a portion of the stolen items passed store security checks.
The stolen merchandise was then transported to the East Coast, where the suspects allegedly conducted fraudulent exchanges. They reportedly swapped stolen items for more expensive ones, using credit cards to pay small differences. These transactions allowed them to generate legitimate receipts, which they later used to return the items for full credit, the complaint states.
The Lululemon investigator estimates that nearly $500,000 worth of stolen goods were returned, with an overall financial impact nearing $1 million when factoring in unreturned merchandise.
Felony Charges Filed
Richards and Lawes-Richards have been charged with felony organized retail theft, a charge created to address large-scale theft operations. If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison.
The suspects appeared in court on Monday, with their next hearing scheduled for Dec. 16.
This case highlights the growing issue of organized retail crime, which has led to significant financial losses for businesses nationwide.