The Metropolitan Police Department has made an arrest in a series of retail thefts targeting CVS stores in Northwest D.C., with the total value of stolen goods reaching over $6,699. In a release posted by MPD, officers arrested 64-year-old Craig Wilson, a resident of Northwest D.C., last Thursday on 23 counts of Second-Degree Theft, connected to a spate of incidences across multiple CVS locations. The arrest was made under a DC Superior Court warrant, stemming from a litany of alleged thefts committed by Wilson ranging from as small as $16.21 to as large as $672.31 in value.
Wilson's alleged crime spree began on June 19, 2024, where MPD documents indicate he stole $131.26 worth of merchandise from the CVS at 1000 block of 16th Street, Northwest. The store became a repeated target, with multiple thefts, including two incidents on the same day, June 19, amounting to $293.60 and on August 19, for $389.99 respectively, the pattern stretched over months with the last recorded theft on September 9, 2024, where Wilson allegedly walked away with $279.53 of goods, according to MPD's statement. MPD's focused investigation reflects a response to an uptick in retail theft, a crime that challenges the community's sense of security.
The police urge the public to exercise caution and refrain from direct intervention during theft incidents, instead advising witnesses to report to the authorities by calling 911. This arrest marks a significant effort by the MPD to crack down on retail theft, which poses a threat not only to the businesses affected but also to the broader sense of safety and order within the community. Authorities maintain a stance of zero tolerance towards such offenses, committing to prevent theft from retail establishments.
