A Surprising Theft: How a Couple Allegedly Stole Thousands from Lululemon

In Minnesota, a couple was recently arrested after being accused of stealing a massive amount of Lululemon goods. Jadion Richards, 44, and Akwele Lawes-Richards, 45, from Connecticut, are suspected of orchestrating and carrying out the thefts. How did they allegedly do it? By using clever tricks like blocking and distracting store staff while shoplifting. One interesting aspect of their scheme was that they would fraudulently return stolen items to different Lululemon stores to cover their tracks. The total losses to Lululemon are estimated to be around $1 million, with the couple responsible for hundreds of thousands in losses. They were found with suitcases full of Lululemon clothes worth over $50, 000 in a hotel room. It all started in Minnesota when the couple was stopped for shoplifting. They denied the charges and even accused the store of racial profiling. However, police discovered that this wasn't their first incident. They had allegedly been involved in similar thefts across multiple states, including Colorado and New York. Richards would enter the store first, buy some cheap items, and then reuse the security tags on stolen goods. Meanwhile, Lawes-Richards and another woman would conceal the items and smoothly exit the store. If the alarm went off, Richards would display the purchased items, allowing the women to slip away unnoticed. Police stepped up their investigation and found incriminating evidence. They uncovered different credit and debit cards hidden in Richards' clothing and a hotel room key. When they searched the room, they found several suitcases filled with Lululemon clothes still in their packages. The couple has since been released on bail and is expected to appear in court in December. Lululemon emphasizes their commitment to creating a safe shopping environment and has collaborated with law enforcement to combat these types of thefts.