WOODBURY, MN – A couple from Connecticut is facing charges for allegedly stealing $1 million in Lululemon products across several states. Jadion Richards, 44, and Akwele Lawes-Richards, 45, were arrested in Woodbury, Minnesota, and charged with organized retail theft.

The investigation began when the alarm at a Lululemon store in Roseville, Minnesota, went off as the couple left the premises. Denying the shoplifting accusations, Richards claimed he was being racially profiled. However, further investigations revealed a pattern of theft involving the couple and an unidentified man.

Authorities discovered that the couple, along with an accomplice, were responsible for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from Lululemon stores by fraudulently returning stolen items to different locations. The organized theft scheme involved stealing items and then returning them for refunds, resulting in significant losses for the popular athleisure-wear brand.

Upon their arrest, officers found incriminating evidence, including stolen items and credit cards hidden in Richards’ buttocks. Further searches led to the recovery of suitcases filled with Lululemon clothing worth over $50,000. The couple is accused of committing thefts in multiple states, including Minnesota, Colorado, New York, Connecticut, and Utah.

Investigators detailed the couple’s modus operandi, which involved specific tactics like distraction and blocking store associates to carry out large-scale thefts. They would strategically position themselves in stores, using decoy tactics to evade detection while stealing merchandise. The investigators estimated the total loss to Lululemon from the couple’s activities to be close to $1 million.

Richards and Lawes-Richards were released on bail and are scheduled to appear in court on December 16. Lululemon’s vice president of asset protection emphasized the company’s commitment to combating retail crime and holding offenders accountable through advanced technology and collaboration with law enforcement. The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by retailers in addressing organized retail theft and the need for enhanced security measures to protect against such criminal activities.