Attracting Employee Attention and Reassuring While Committing Organized Crime
An American couple who traveled across the United States for two months and stole products worth $1 million (about 1.4 billion KRW) from the yoga apparel brand Lululemon has been brought to trial.
On the 23rd (local time), NBC and other foreign media cited an indictment submitted to the Minnesota District Court, reporting that the American couple Jedion Richard (44) and Akwell Rose-Richard (45), residents of Connecticut, were arrested on the 14th for theft at a Lululemon store in Woodbury, Minnesota. They are also accused of stealing at least 45 products worth $5,000 (about 7 million KRW) along with an unidentified man from another Lululemon store in Roseville, Minnesota, a day before their arrest.
The police who arrested the couple stated that they were carrying several credit and debit cards as well as a Marriott hotel room keycard. Based on this, the police searched the hotel room and found a total of 12 travel bags, among which three contained Lululemon apparel worth more than $50,000 (about 70 million KRW).
A Lululemon representative claimed that the couple and the 'criminal organization' they belonged to had been conducting organized thefts at various stores across the U.S. since September, including in Utah, Colorado, New York, and Connecticut. Because of this, Lululemon estimated financial losses amounting to $1 million (about 1.4 billion KRW). However, they did not disclose exactly how the loss amount was calculated.
They committed the crimes using a carefully planned method to distract store employees. One person would divert the employee's attention while the other hid stolen products inside a jacket. Also, one person would first purchase inexpensive items, then the other who stole expensive products would leave the store first, followed closely by the person who bought the cheaper items. If the store alarm sounded, the person who purchased the inexpensive items would show the receipt to the employee to reassure them. Additionally, they exchanged stolen goods without receipts at other stores.
They were detained at the Ramsey County Jail in Minnesota but were reportedly released on bail. They are scheduled to appear in court on the 16th.
Meanwhile, Lululemon started in 1998 in Vancouver, Canada, and grew into a global apparel brand by popularizing yoga leggings worldwide. In 2007, it was listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange in New York, USA.
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