HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Henrico police said two bold criminals set their sights on hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise at the Target on West Broad Street.
Shaquanna Becoat and Nashae Stovall allegedly tried to walk away the stolen merchandise while police were inside the store.
Police said Becoat and Stovall pulled suitcases off the shelves, filled them with clothes, toiletries and cosmetics, then put the suitcases in a shopping cart and attempted to push them out of the store.
Some shoppers at the West Broad Street Target were floored to hear about Thursday night’s arrests. Olivia Laughter, who works inside the Starbucks at Target and was there when the arrests were made, said it is something she’s seen before.
“I’ve seen a few people get arrested for stealing before. The Loss Prevention people will catch them. I have seen a mom stopped for stealing with kids before,” Laughter said.
Others said what’s even more disturbing to them is that police report a 3-year-old and 6-year-old were with the two women. Police said the children belong to one of the women.
Retail Merchants Association member Kevin Reardon of Franco’s Fine Clothier said headlines like these always highlight the negative impact that shoplifting has on businesses and customers.
“Someone has to pay for that loss. That cost is passed along,” Reardon explained.
Every year across the United States, stores see more than thirteen billion dollars in losses due to shoplifters, according to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention.
Reardon said they prosecuted a shoplifter just this week and that it is an issue that’s always top of mind.
“We’ve become more proactive in the last year…installing cameras…can monitor what goes on in our store from our office,” Reardon added.
Court documents show both women were arrested and released on bond. They’re due in court Nov. 3.
