REHOBOTH BEACH — Delaware State Police arrested four Maryland women Saturday on multiple felony shoplifting charges at Tanger Outlets.
Over the past three months, numerous outlet stores have experienced shoplifting incidents, during which three or four female suspects have stolen thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, spokeswoman Master Cpl. Heather Pepper said. On Saturday, troopers were conducting proactive patrols in the Tanger Outlets Midway, Seaside and Bayside locations.
At approximately 2:41 p.m., a trooper in the parking lot of the Bayside site observed a black Infinity sedan traveling with its rear license plate covered with paper. A traffic stop was initiated on the Infinity, Cpl. Pepper said.
As troopers approached the car, a rear passenger exited and removed the paper from the license plate, she said. Through an investigation, troopers determined that the four occupants had visited Tanger Outlets to shoplift, Cpl. Pepper added.
The four women were identified as driver Antonia Risby, 26, of Baltimore, and passengers Adaja Cozart, 24, of Middle River; Jasmin Burgess, 21, of Gwynn Oak; and Cemone Massenberg, 25, of Baltimore.
Following a search, the suspects were found to be in possession of shoplifting tools, police said. In addition, numerous empty shopping bags from various stores were discovered.
The four women were taken into custody without incident and transported to Troop 7, Lewes.
Further measures linked Ms. Risby to three other shopliftings at Tanger Outlets, Cpl. Pepper said. The amount of merchandise stolen during those incidents was $11,357.01.
The women were charged with second-degree conspiracy and multiple counts of theft. All were arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution, New Castle, on secured bonds.
