Tysons Urban Team Uses License Plate Reader To Stop 'Retail Theft Crew' From Philadelphia

TYSONS, VA — Fairfax County police officers recovered an estimated $15,000 worth of stolen merchandise from three people accused of theft last Thursday at the Tysons Galleria mall, the police said Tuesday.

Officers with the Fairfax County Police Department’s Tysons Urban Team received a tip from Sak’s Fifth Avenue on July 13 that a “retail theft crew” had left their store in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with stolen items and were driving a Chevrolet Impala with a Pennsylvania license plate.

Using license plate reader technology, the officers learned that the Chevrolet Impala had entered Virginia and was in the Tysons area. The vehicle was seen heading in the direction of Saks Fifth Avenue at Tysons Galleria, police said.

The vehicle’s occupants were observed by police officers entering the Sak’s Fifth Avenue store. Once in the store, the people selected multiple high-end handbags and other luxury merchandise and headed toward the exit without paying, police said.

When approached by the store’s security guards, two suspects ran, according to police. Tysons Urban Team units were already in the area and were able to take one suspect into custody. The other suspect was found in a nearby dumpster after a brief search of the area. The driver of the vehicle was soon located and taken into custody, police said.

Another retail store in Tysons reported that one of the suspects had also stolen from their business, according to police.

The FCPD said their officers were able to recover about $15,000 worth of stolen property.

According to police, Ericka Williams, 26, of Philadelphia, was charged with grand larceny, larceny with intent to sell or distribute, conspire to commit larceny, organized retail theft, and obstruction of justice-resisting arrest.

Amin Shamsid-Deen, 30, of Philadelphia, was charged with grand larceny, larceny with intent to sell or distribute, conspire to commit larceny, organized retail theft, and obstruction of justice-resisting arrest.

Tunisia Amina Shamsid-Deen, 32, of Philadelphia, was charged with two counts of grand larceny, larceny with intent to sell or distribute, conspire to commit larceny, organized retail theft, possession of schedule I/II drug, and disregarding signal by law-enforcement officer to stop–eluding police.

The three suspects were taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and held without bond, police said.

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