MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Two women from Minnesota have been charged with organizing the theft of merchandise worth several thousand dollars from a Lululemon store located in Minneapolis. They allegedly funneled the stolen items through a nail salon in the suburbs.
My Hoang Thi Van, 56, and Kathy Nguyen, 24, are both facing felony charges for organized retail theft. Minneapolis police were able to identify the two roommates, who live in Crystal, after being tipped off by corporate investigators from Lululemon, a high-end athletic wear retailer, as reported by the Star Tribune.
The criminal complaints filed on Thursday indicate that Lululemon’s investigators observed significant theft losses at their downtown Minneapolis store. They were able to pinpoint a suspect through surveillance footage and interviews with employees. This individual, who has not yet been charged, was reportedly stealing bags from the store, filling them with merchandise, and leaving without paying.
To track the thefts, investigators placed GPS tracking devices in several bags. After the suspect stole these bags, they followed her movements. The woman then took the stolen items to Diamond Nails Salon in Crystal and left the salon without the bags but with a large amount of cash, according to the complaint.
When arrested by the police, the shoplifter revealed that she was instructed to steal the items by a woman working at the salon, whom she identified as Van. She stated that Van would pay her $400 for the stolen clothes, remove the anti-theft devices, and then sell the items in a plastic bag. The shoplifter estimated that she had completed over 100 transactions for Van.
Police later discovered numerous white plastic bags filled with stolen Lululemon merchandise throughout the women’s home, along with the removed anti-theft tags, as outlined in the complaint.
The total value of the merchandise stolen from the store is still being counted, but it has been reported to exceed $5,000.
As of Friday, Nguyen’s attorney had not responded to requests for comments. Court records did not show an attorney listed for Van, and she also had not responded to inquiries from The Associated Press.
