Breaking News in the Industry: December 8, 2017

Teens to be charged as adults in armed robbery at mall

Charges have been filed against four Michigan teens in connection with armed robberies that took place at Ann Arbor’s Briarwood Mall and a nearby Red Roof Inn. Two of the teens had multiple charges authorized when they appeared in Washtenaw County’s juvenile court Wednesday, Dec. 6. The other two teens had their cases adjourned because they are expected to be charged as adults later this week, possibly as early as Thursday, according to court proceedings.  A 16-year-old from Willis and 16-year-old of Ypsilanti are expected to be charged as adults in the case. The charges in their current juvenile case include: two counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, six counts of armed robbery, one count of carrying a weapon with unlawful intent and one count of felony firearm. A 13-year-old Ypsilanti boy will face the same charges as a juvenile. A fourth defendant, a 16-year-old Ypsilanti boy, will face one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, five counts of armed robbery and second-degree retail fraud in the case, according to court records. Chief Assistant Washtenaw County Prosecutor Steve Hiller said he couldn’t comment on why two of the teens would be charged as adults, while the other two were charged as juveniles.  Juvenile Referee Gail Altenburg ordered the four teens to remain in custody at Washtenaw County’s youth home due to the seriousness of the charges. Police were called about 7:45 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, to the area near the Sears at Briarwood Mall, for a robbery.  Five people told investigators they were in a vehicle when they were approached by teenagers, one threatening them with a handgun. The teens fled after taking money and cellphones, police said.  Less than 10 minutes later, police were called to the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn, where a pizza delivery driver said he’d been robbed in a similar fashion, according to police.  Ann Arbor police initially arrested three teens. Detective Lt. Matthew Lige said a fourth teen was identified in the course of the investigation. [Source: Mlive]

Four college students arrested in alleged shoplifting ring

Four Georgetown College students in Kentuckey face charges after they allegedly participated in a shoplifting ring that tried to steal more than $500 in merchandise from a store. Police reports show officers responded to a call about 4:50 p.m. Monday from Kohl’s when a loss prevention associate allegedly saw four women choose merchandise and take the items into the same fitting room. The associate said the women removed inventory-control tags from the items, and hid the items in a backpack that one of the women carried. Store employees found the tags in the fitting room but no clothing left there, the reports said.

The LP associate stopped the women in the parking lot, searched the backpack and found several unpurchased items, the report said. The associate escorted the women back into the store. The total value of the stolen items was $577, one report said. Mariah Mackenzie Bolasina, Ariana J. Garner, London R. Polk and Shelby Briannon Webster, all 19 and all of Georgetown, were charged with theft by unlawful taking-shoplifting more than $500 but less than $10,000 and engaging in organized crime. Georgetown College Associate Vice President for College Relations Jim Allison confirmed the four are students.  Officials say the women had been previously identified as suspects in shoplifting that occurred Nov. 30, but no charge had been filed regarding those allegations. All four were lodged without bond in the detention center.  [Source: LEX18]

Tennessee’s efforts to address retail theft and drug abuse featured in CNBC investigative report

State Senator Richard Briggs is featured in an investigative report posted on CNBC today which examines organized retail crime and its link to the opioid crisis.  In addition to an interview with Briggs, the report also takes a firsthand look at the problem with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Area Law Enforcement and Retailers Team (A.L.E.R.T). The report, “Gift Card Crime Fueling Opioid Addiction across the U.S.,” follows the passage of a new law sponsored by Briggs and approved by the General Assembly this year defining organized retail crime and creating two new theft offenses to prosecute individuals who return stolen merchandise to receive money, gift cards or store credit. Retail theft is prevalent in Tennessee, with Knoxville ranking first in the nation per capita for card abuse and theft. “We have a crisis in Tennessee where goods are stolen and then returned to retailers for credit on a gift card,” said Senator Briggs.  “The cards are sold for cash, which in turn, is fueling the illegal drug market.” While the bill was going through the legislative process, expert testimony by law enforcement revealed that there were 19 overdoses due to opioids during one month in Knox County in which 16 had sold gift cards on the resale market for cash.

Reports from law enforcement and others, like CNBC, continue to lend validity to the connection of the use of gift cards obtained through retail theft and illegal drugs. The new law allows local law enforcement to track gift card purchases and their resale when the card was obtained fraudulently and establishes a reporting requirement that allows authorities to collect the needed data to demonstrate the fiscal impact of the crime. Briggs plans to introduce legislation when the 110th General Assembly reconvenes in January to enhance the reporting requirements and strengthen penalties against retail theft offenders.  He believes the proposal will dovetail with legislative efforts to address the state’s opioid epidemic. Briggs added, “If you look at the entire impact of Tennessee, it’s higher prices for consumers; we are not collecting taxes that we are supposed to; but its funding the drug trade, which is without question one of the largest crises in our state.” It is estimated that in 2015 Tennessee lost over $14 million in sales tax dollars and retailers lost over $200 million related to return fraud. Other states are already looking at the new Tennessee law as model legislation. The CNBC report is posted here, and features National Emmy-Award winning journalist Contessa Brewer.  Segments of the report are expected to be shown on the network throughout the day.  [Source: Herald Chronicle]

LP Worldwide: Okinawa-based Marines charged with credit-card fraud by Tokyo police

Two Marines were arrested last week after police said they used a fake credit card to buy clothes at a department store in Tokyo’s Shibuya district. Cpl. Gregory Singleton and Sgt. Darren Murray, both assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force on Okinawa, were arrested on Nov. 28 by Tokyo Metropolitan Police and charged with credit-card fraud, Marine Corps spokesman 1st Lt. David Mancilla said in an email Wednesday. Singleton, 25, and Murray, 22, are suspected of using the fake card on Oct. 29 to buy clothing items valued at $891, said a Tokyo Metropolitan Police spokesman. Police said they believe Singleton created the card using a co-worker’s personal information, the Asahi newspaper reported. The situation came to light on Oct. 29, when a store clerk reported a suspicious belt purchase to police. An investigation raised concerns about five other items, the police spokesman said. The duo told police that they went to Shibuya and Roppongi to attend Halloween parties, the Mainichi newspaper reported. The Marine Corps and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are fully cooperating with the Japanese investigation, Mancilla said.  [Source: Stars & Stripes]