Two women from Minnesota, My Hoang Thi Van and Kathy Nguyen, have been charged with organized retail theft after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise from a Lululemon store in Minneapolis. The women were tracked down by Minneapolis police with the help of corporate investigators for the athletic retailer. The investigation uncovered a scheme in which a suspect would steal bags of merchandise from the store, fill them with goods, and then leave without paying. The stolen items were then taken to a suburban nail salon where they were resold.
After placing GPS tracking tags in several bags, investigators were able to track the movements of the suspect, leading them to Diamond Nails Salon in Crystal. The suspect revealed that she had been directed to steal the clothes by a woman who worked at the salon, identified as Van. Van allegedly paid the suspect $400 for the stolen goods, removed the sensors, and then resold the merchandise. The suspect estimated that she had conducted at least 100 transactions with Van. Upon searching the defendants’ home, police found numerous white plastic bags of stolen Lululemon merchandise and anti-theft tags that had been removed.
The total value of the stolen merchandise from the Lululemon store was still being calculated, but it was reported to be well in excess of $5,000. Nguyen’s attorney did not provide a comment on the situation, while Van did not have a listed attorney and did not respond to requests for comment. The charges filed against the women include one felony count of organized retail theft, and the investigation was a joint effort between the Minneapolis police and corporate investigators for Lululemon.
The case highlights the collaboration between law enforcement and retail companies to crack down on organized retail theft. The use of GPS tracking tags and surveillance videos played a crucial role in identifying the suspects and unraveling the scheme. The stolen merchandise was funneled through a suburban nail salon, demonstrating the lengths to which some individuals will go to profit from stolen goods. As the investigation continues, more details may emerge about the extent of the operation and any potential accomplices involved.
The defendants could face significant legal consequences if convicted of the organized retail theft charges. With the value of the stolen merchandise exceeding $5,000, the financial impact on the Lululemon store is significant. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in preventing and combating organized theft schemes, and the need for cooperation between law enforcement and retailers to hold perpetrators accountable. The allegations against Van and Nguyen shed light on the underground market for stolen goods and the various channels through which such items are distributed for profit.
