Police: Two shoplifters steal personal hygiene items
Two suspects with prior retail fraud charges against them were charged again in Ferndale after police say they stole dozens of personal hygiene items.
Suspect Sean Phillips, 31, of Warren, has an earlier conviction for drug possession, while suspect Ashley Boroughs, 26, of Detroit, had three hypodermic needles in her purse when she was arrested, police said.
Ferndale police Officer Jillian Mahlmeister the pair stole nearly three dozen items, including body wash, razors, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes and laundry detergent from the CVS store at 900 W. Nine Mile Road near Pinecrest.
A manager at the store called police about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday as the suspects fled the store with the stolen items, police said.
“When suspects steal multiple quantities of items like this it usually means they are taking them to sell to small stores or even flea markets,” Mahlmeister said, adding that such crimes are common among people with drug abuse problems.
Shoplifting in general is up in many communities in the region since the COVID-19 pandemic began, police have noted. One part of it may be that with everyone required to wear face masks, shoplifters feel more secure against being identified if they flee without being quickly caught.
But Ferndale police said they got a description from the CVS store manager of the 2005 pickup truck the suspects were traveling in with a driver, who was not charged.
Ferndale police spotted the pickup truck and did a traffic stop about seven blocks away from the CVS store at Beaufield and Marshall streets.
Police said they found a CVS hand basket inside the truck near Phillips legs with the suspected stolen merchandise.
Phillips and Boroughs were each charged Wednesday with second-degree retail fraud in a
video arraignment in Ferndale 43rd District Court.
Boroughs, who had warrants out for her arrest for retail fraud in Warren and using false ID in Fraser, was additionally charged in Ferndale with possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police said Phillips has prior convictions for possession of a controlled substance, attempted larceny and felony larceny in Warren.
Both pleaded not guilty at their arraignment and requested court appointed attorneys to represent them.
Boroughs and Phillips were released on personal bond on the misdemeanor charges against them.
They are scheduled for a pretrial hearing in Ferndale court at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 16.