Memphis has been experiencing a wave of retail thefts, according to a series of reports released by the Memphis Police Department via their official social media channel. The department has been following up on several shoplifting incidents occurring across several neighborhoods, with various suspects involved. Notably, on May 16, a shoplifting incident at Marshall’s located at 7660 Polo Grounds Boulevard involved two male suspects who lifted Nike socks, True Religion shirts, and Polo shirts before fleeing.
In another case reported on May 17, several suspects were seen on surveillance video leaving a retail location at 5959 Poplar Avenue in a gray sedan after shoplifting, subsequently, another theft on June 26 in the 8000 block of Dexter Road saw the lifting of a silver trash can and a black/yellow trash cart roller, which was then transported in a white van with a trailer attached. Further incidents include a reported simple assault on June 20 at 3123 Barron Avenue where the victim was accused of stealing a cell phone and was punched and kicked by three suspects, the Memphis Police Department released detailed descriptions of the suspects involved and urged anyone with information to come forward, adding weight to their efforts to apprehend the individuals responsible for the string of thefts and assaults.
A more recent shoplifting report on July 6 outlined a theft at Family Dollar on 2570 Frayser Boulevard, where a suspect filled a trash bag with items and left without paying. Less than two weeks later, Circle K on 3333 Thomas Street was hit on two separate occasions with suspects stealing a variety of candies and beer, respectively. These incidents contribute to a larger pattern of crime impacting local businesses, raising concerns about security and loss prevention measures currently in place.
Additional reports from Dollar General and CVS on April 23 and July 18 also detail shoplifting events, with suspects taking items such as baby supplies and personal care products, in a similar case of shoplifting at Walgreens, 5190 Poplar Avenue, an unknown male attempted to break into a door using a metal object, showcasing a potential escalation in the tactics used by these perpetrators. The suspects in these incidents have varied in description, and authorities are asking anyone with information to assist in their investigations.
