PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Two Philadelphia women were arrested last week in what police described as a theft ring responsible for stealing tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise from luxury stores like Givenchy and Lululemon, using a 9-year-old – old accomplice in several thefts.
Janiyah Robinson, 19, and Ayonna Robinson, 24, were arrested May 30 after police caught up with them following a theft at the Lululemon store on Walnut Street in Philadelphia, Inspector Ray Evers said at a news conference. Both Robinsons, who are not related, fled in a car after the theft, Evers said.
“Luckily there was a lot of traffic on Walnut Street and we were able to stop that car, impound it and make two arrests,” Evers said.
Police believe Janiyah Robinson, listed in court documents as Jahide Robinson, would recruit young people and teenagers without criminal records from the area of 17th Street and Susquehanna Avenue and invite them to commit thefts at high-end stores, including Lululemon in Philadelphia. , Lower Merion and Upper Merion. Officials from those suburban departments believe the ring was responsible for thefts at Suburban Square in Ardmore and the King of Prussia Mall.
The clothing was then sold at two local bars in North and Northwest Philadelphia or online, according to police.
“They parked in front of Lululemon in Philadelphia, went into the store with trash bags or large bags, got in the car, jumped in the car and left. It would take less than two minutes for the incidents to occur, so by the time the police got to the scene, they were called, they were already gone,” Evers said.
Evers said the Department of Human Services has been notified of the 9-year-old’s alleged role in the thefts.
“It is absolutely unbelievable that this adult would use a 9-year-old to commit a crime,” Evers said.
He said investigators obtained video showing the child walking into stores with a garbage bag and filling the bag with items in at least two thefts.
“We take this very seriously because they are using young children,” Evers added.
Capt. Gene Pasternak of the Lower Merion Police Department explained that the theft ring had a recognizable approach and hit the Lululemon store on Suburban Square in Ardmore four times, getting away with more than $10,000 worth of items in one incident.
“Any theft is significant,” Pasternak said. “They grabbed armloads of clothes, three to four actors at a time, and ran out of the store. And the merchandise is all very, very expensive, so four of them grabbed armloads of clothes in this one theft and got $10,300 worth.”
Detective Jerome Staquet of the Upper Merion Police Department said the group pepper-sprayed a security guard in the face at the Givenchy store in the King of Prussia Mall on May 16 before removing items from the displays and ripping them from their security cables. Police estimated the value of the goods at approximately $8,000.
Janiyah Robinson is in jail and being held on $180,000 bond.
Police said in one case, a suspect involved in the King of Prussia theft case was able to post bail and then was involved in another shoplifting case in Philadelphia.
Evers said the Lululemon store in Philadelphia alone lost $40,000 due to multiple thefts.
