Madison Police Department officers arrested four individuals Sunday for shoplifting at West Towne Mall, and the preliminary investigation shows the suspects were planning on selling the stolen merchandise to “clients” for half the price.
MPD officers arrested Jermaine E. Harris, Jr., 24; Kristel D. Tate, 26; Sonja M. Griffin, 33 and a 14-year-old girl. One of the suspects, whom MPD Public Information Officer Joel DeSpain did not identify in an incident report, informed officers of the “criminal enterprise.”
Employees at Sears and J.C. Penny alerted MPD to suspicious activities at both stores Sunday. According to the report, security confronted the suspects around 11:45 a.m. Sunday. They were trying to steal approximately $500 worth of clothing, but dropped it and ran.
Later in the afternoon, around 2 p.m., the suspects were seen in Sears. Three suspects were acting as “lookouts,” while the fourth stuffed items into a bag. Two bags were also found in the trunk of one of the suspect’s cars. One suspect confessed to committing similar crimes Saturday.
MPD returned approximately $150 worth of merchandise to Sears.
