Retail Theft Crew Arrested At Wayne's Nordstrom Rack: Police

WAYNE, NJ — Four members of an organized retail theft crew were charged with shoplifting after police caught them with $6,000 in merchandise in their car Thursday night, police said.

Jason Stlouis, Fertima Nealy, Tyshon Hawkins, and Tyietha Burnett were arrested after police got a call about a theft going on at Nordstrom Rack at the Wayne Town Center, said Detective Capt. Laurence Martin.

Police found the suspects inside a black 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue with $6,000 in merchandise "filling the floorboard area and car seats," said Martin.

Officer found an iPhone fan from Nordstrom Rack inside passenger Stlouis' pocket, Martin said.

Nealy, the driver, had a cutting tool used to remove security sensors from clothes and Hawkins had a large magnet that thieves use to circumvent security sensors, the captain said. He also had "countless" of plastic bags from H&M, Marshalls, and HomeGoods, he said.

Hawkins, Burnett, and Stlouis had warrants out for their arrests. They, and Nealy, were taken to the Passaic County Jail pending detention hearings.

Police investigated and learned that Hawkins, Burnett, Nealy, and Stlouis steal merchandise from South Jersey stores then come to North Jersey to try to return the items at stores up here for merchandise credit, Martin said.

Detective Scott Agnes is coordinating with other law enforcement agencies to identify and return the stolen merchandise.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com