Imagine Bonnie and Clyde if they were really into sports.
Connecticut couple Jadion Richards and Akwele Lawes-Richards have been charged with stealing $1 million. Lululemon products in the crime spree that targeted the brand nationwide.
The couple was arrested in Woodbury, Minn., and charged with one felony count of organized retail theft each. People magazine obtained Minnesota court documents that reveal this wasn't the first time the pair had been busted for sticky fingers — both had “previously engaged in patterned retail theft.”
According to court documents, they were arrested when Jadion and an unidentified accomplice stole $5,000 worth of merchandise from a Lululemon store in Roseville, Minn. Police searched their hotel room and found $50,000 worth of Lululemon products packed in twelve suitcases.
Court documents allege the couple pulled their scheme in Minnesota, New York, Colorado and Utah and that they changed their tactics. Sometimes they worked together to distract store employees or block the view of store security cameras. Sometimes Richards would buy something, then place a sensor in his bag to set off what appeared to be a false alarm while Lawes-Richards walked out with stolen items.
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Both were released on bail and are due back in court in December.
In a statement, Tristen Shields, Lululemon's vice president of asset protection, said: “This result continues to underscore our continued cooperation with law enforcement and our investments in advanced technology, team training and investigative capabilities to fight crime with minority and to hold offenders accountable”.
Lululemon has struggled with organized targeted theft and its prevention. last summer, The entrepreneur reported on an event where two Lululemon employees were fired after interfering with the robbery attempt.
In a statement, the company explained that the employees were fired for “knowing violations of our zero-tolerance policy regarding physical involvement with perpetrators that endangered their lives and the safety of our guests and other employees.”