A 61-year-old Boston man with a history of larceny charges is back in cuffs after swiping over $1,000 of high-end fashion from Saks Fifth Avenue, officials said. Paul Nicholson, who has a long rap sheet dating to 1981, was ordered to shell out $250 bail and keep clear from Saks following his latest alleged retail romp, said District Attorney Kevin Hayden on Tuesday.
Nicholson purportedly pocketed four dresses each priced at $295 from the posh retailer back in January. When Saks security tried to stop him from leaving the store, Nicholson couldn't to make a clean getaway and got nixed by the cops, according to a statement by Hayden's office. Boston Police arrived at the scene at approximately 5:39 pm following a call from the security staff. However, after his arrest, Nicholson suffered a medical issue and had to be rushed to the hospital for treatment, before being summoned to court this past Tuesday.
In his battle against retail crimes, Hayden has convened with local business groups to formulate strategies against shoplifting which has increasingly become a thorn in the community's side. This includes the detrimental effects on businesses, shoppers, and particularly minority neighborhoods recently hit by pharmacy closures.
"We are keenly aware that a relatively small number of offenders commit a disproportionate number of crimes, including store-based crimes. Although the merchandise was recovered here, the incident is indicative of activity that hurts retailers, shoppers, and the community itself. This man has been convicted of similar offenses before and will be held accountable for his continued threat to our retail establishments," Hayden stated, as reported by Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.
Nicholson's checkered past includes a dozen pages of probation records and a recent stint in the slammer back in June 2022 for larceny. He is due back in court for this case and a pending assault case on April 17. No word yet on whether his taste for theft has been curbed by the latest run-in with the law.
