Woman banned from Macy’s, Wal-Mart, Kroger kept returning to steal more
Lexington KY June 6 2017 A Lexington woman who had been banned from Macy’s, Wal-Mart and Kroger for alleged shoplifting is now facing multiple charges, including engaging in organized crime.
Police say Michelle Robinson, 40, took all kinds of things, from Michael Kors purses to detergent.
Robinson, whose address is listed in police records as general delivery, was arrested Monday at the Kroger on Alexandria Drive, according to a police citation. In addition to the charge of engaging in organized crime, she faces seven charges of theft by unlawful taking/shoplifting, four trespassing charges and one charge of probation violation.
Police records indicate that Macy’s banned Robinson from their property Oct. 7 and that she signed a notification stating that she understood it.
That was the same day Robinson was arrested and charged with shoplifting after Macy’s loss prevention workers said they saw her put merchandise valued at $1,171 into a large bag, then leave without paying. The merchandise was returned to the store, and Robinson ultimately pleaded guilty.
Apparently that didn’t keep her from going back to Macy’s.
On the morning of Jan. 4, police say she was caught on surveillance video taking one silver and two black Michael Kors purses from Macy’s without paying. The purses were valued at $691 total.
The loss prevention associate, Ashley Willoughby, “identified the suspect from previous shoplifting encounters at this location,” the citation says.
On June 7, Robinson again went to Macy’s, chose two Michael Kors purses valued at $298 each and walked out with them, police say.
She is charged with criminal trespassing and shoplifting in both of those instances.
On May 31, police said Robinson and an unidentified accomplice loaded a cart at Wal-Mart with $296 worth of detergent and toiletries, then Robinson pushed the cart out of the store without paying while the accomplice pulled up to the exit in a getaway vehicle. They were not apprehended, and the merchandise was not recovered.
According to the police complaint, Robinson had been “previously banned from all Wal-Marts for shoplifting.”
And on April 25, police say she was seen on surveillance video concealing $66 worth of merchandise in her purse at Kroger, then walking out without paying.
A Kroger loss prevention associate working at another location identified her “due to prior encounters with her for shoplifting incidents,” police said. She already had been “banned from all Kroger properties,” according to the statement.
Leanna Smith, 36, of Nicholasville, was arrested at Kroger at the same time as Robinson on Monday and charged with engaging in organized crime-criminal syndicate and theft by unlawful taking or shoplifting of $500 or more but under $10,000.
In her arrest warrant, police said Smith, “along with another unlawfully removed merchandise from more than one retailer for the purpose of resale.”
Robinson and Smith pleaded not guilty at their arraignments on Tuesday and are scheduled to appear in court again on June 27.
Kentucky.com
