Retail Theft Ring Stole $32K In Candles From NoVA Stores, Police Say

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Police arrested three District residents on larceny charged after thousands of dollars worth of candles were stolen from retailers in the Kingstowne and Fair Oaks areas.

Officers responded around 1:02 p.m. on Feb. 2, to a business in the 5800 block of Kingstowne Center in Kingstowne for the report of a grand larceny. Investigators learned that three people had entered the business and stole merchandise, according to the incident report. The suspects then left in a vehicle before police arrived.

When similar thefts began to be reported at other businesses in Kingstowne and in the Fair Oaks area, police recognized that an organized retail theft operation was occurring, a news release said. Through their investigation, detectives were able to link suspects to the multiple coordinated thefts.

On Thursday, detectives with FCPD’s Fugitive Tracking and Apprehension Team arrested the following three suspects in Washington, D.C., with the help of the U.S. Marshal’s Office:

• Delontae Shaw, 34, was arrested and charged with 10 counts of grand larceny and 10 counts of larceny with intent to sell.
• Sincere Stewart, 25, was arrested and charged with four counts of conspiracy to commit larceny.
• Devon Owens, 28, was arrested and charged with five counts of grand larceny and five counts of larceny with intent to sell.

All three suspects are District residents and are being held at the Washington, D.C. Central Detention Facility, awaiting extradition to Fairfax County, according to police.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents or others are asked to call detectives at the Franconia District Station at 703-922-0889. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE for a reward up to $5,000.

Below is a chart of the thefts committed by this organized crew:

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