Troy Police Charge 3 Suspects In JC Penney Heist

TROY, MI — Three suspects from Detroit were arrested Tuesday and charged with retail fraud after trying to steal hundreds of dollars worth of clothing from a John R. Road JC Penney store in Troy, according to police. Two male suspects, both teenagers, were also charged with possession of burglary tools, and malicious destruction of property.

Troy officers spotted the passenger of a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix removing several pieces of clothing while inside and outside of the vehicle, police reports stated. A second suspect walked up to the vehicle, entered it, and began to remove multiple pieces of clothing he was wearing as well.

A 20-year-old female suspect was then seen leaving the store. Reports said she continuously looked back toward the JC Penney doors as she walked toward the vehicle. Officers noted that she appeared to be wearing several layers of clothing as she entered the Grand Prix.

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The trio then took off at a high rate of speed out of the store parking lot and headed southbound on John R. Officers then stopped the vehicle and spoke with all three suspects, including the 20-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old man.

Reports said the suspects were wearing several items of clothing that had price tags still attached to them. Police said several other items of stolen merchandise were recovered from the Grand Prix.

The total amount of merchandise from J. C. Penney recovered was $358.57 from the 19 year old, $131.44 from the 17 year old, and $125.06 from the 20 year old. Police found several pairs of wire cutters and pliers that were allegedly used to remove anti-theft devices from the clothing.

Some of the articles of clothing stolen by the male suspects had holes in them from the anti-theft security sensors being torn off the merchandise.

File photo