Imagine Bonnie and Clyde if they were really into sports.
Connecticut couple Jadion Richards and Akwele Lawes-Richards were accused of stealing $1 million worth of Lululemon products in a crime spree that targeted the brand across the country.
The pair was arrested in Woodbury, Minnesota, and were each charged with one count of organized retail theft. People Magazine obtained court documents in Minnesota that show this wasn’t the first time the pair had been caught with sticky fingers – each “had previously been involved in a pattern of retail theft.”
According to court documents, they were arrested when Jadion and an unnamed accomplice stole $5,000 worth of merchandise from a Lululemon store in Roseville, Minnesota. Police searched their hotel room and found $50,000 worth of Lululemon products packed into twelve suitcases.
Court documents show that the pair carried out their plan in Minnesota, New York, Colorado and Utah and that they modified tactics. Sometimes they worked together to distract store employees or block the view of store surveillance cameras. Sometimes, Richards would buy something and then place a sensor in the bag that might trigger an apparent false alarm while Lawes-Richards left with the stolen items.
Both were released on bail and are due back in court in December.
In a statement, Tristen Shields, Lululemon’s vp of asset protection, said: “This result continues to highlight our continued cooperation with law enforcement and our investments in advanced technology, team training and investigative capabilities to combat retail crime and hold criminals accountable.” .
Lululemon struggles with targeted organized theft and its prevention. Last summer Entrepreneur reported an incident in which two Lululemon employees were fired after intervening in connection with an attempted robbery.
In a statement, the company explained that the employees were fired for “knowingly violating our zero-tolerance policy of physical contact with perpetrators, which puts their lives and the safety of our guests and other employees at risk.”