Jail time for woman stealing from stores

A Pontiac woman was arrested after stealing from several Bloomfield Township retail establishments on Thursday, September 28, and was sentenced to 120 days in jail.

At a little after 3 p.m. September 28, Kishel McGee, 46, of Pontiac, was initially observed by an employee working at Soccer Plus, 2191 Telegraph Road, outside the store, rummaging through what appeared to be new merchandise in a large purse, instead of a store bag. The employee thought it looked suspicious and notified police.

The employee followed her before police arrived, and observed McGee conceal the bag in the bushes across the street next to the township Target store, 2400 Telegraph Road south of Square Lake, before losing sight of her.

Township officers arrived and notified Target loss prevention, who reported that McGee was not currently inside the Target store. However, after reviewing their store surveillance video, they discovered that at approximately 3:20 p.m., she had stolen about $271 worth of clothing.

Officers at Target located the original concealed bag along with new merchandise she had taken from Home Goods, 2185 Telegraph Road. The bag from Home Goods contained bedding items valued at approximately $240 and no receipts. Home Goods personnel confirmed the items had been taken from their store without payment at about 2:55 p.m.

Other officers in the area located McGee behind the U.S. Post office, 2211 Telegraph Road, with a handbag containing the missing items from Target.

McGee was arrested for retail fraud and lodged at the Bloomfield Township police station, where it was discovered she has a prior conviction for retail fraud third degree.

The incident was presented to the Oakland County’s Prosecutor’s Office, which authorized a two-count warrant, both for retail fraud second degree.

McGee was arraigned on Friday, September 29, at 48th District Court before Judge Marc Barron, and appeared again on Thursday, October 5, before Judge Barron, where she plead guilty at pre-trial.

She was sentenced to 120 days in jail, plus fines and costs.