Lululemon bust leads to $140,000 in stolen items

The apprehension of a thief by Birmingham police of a retail fraud in progress at the Lululemon store, 101 S. Old Woodward, on Sunday, February 12, led to the discovery of an organized retail crime ring.

Birmingham police announced they had apprehended and charged one male, David Malik Roberts, 27, who was later arraigned on felony retail fraud first degree, felony identity theft and resisting and obstructing police.

Birmingham police who were investigating the case determined Roberts and other suspects involved were part of a much more significant organized retail crime ring, who had committed numerous retail frauds throughout the state of Michigan totaling over $140,000.

On Friday, February 17, Birmingham detectives were notified that suspects linked to the same organized retail crime crew had committed another retail theft at the Detroit Lululemon store, 1459 Woodward Avenue, stealing approximately $6,000 worth of merchandise.

After leaving the store, the suspects drove to a business in Detroit and unloaded the merchandise.

Birmingham detectives obtained a search warrant for the business, and conducted surveillance in conjunction with Troy Special Investigation Unit (SIU), which includes officers from Troy, Auburn Hills, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Township and Birmingham police departments. A search warrant was ultimately granted and served, locating stolen items valuing over $41,000 and a recovery of several illegal firearms and stolen appliances.

Birmingham detectives, Troy SIU, Oakland County Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET), and the South Oakland County Narcotics Intelligence Consortium (SONIC) report they executed the search warrant, where they located numerous stolen items, including 17 items of clothing from the Birmingham Lululemon store, and a total of clothing worth a total of $41,000.