NYC shoplifting crew nabbed at Perimeter Mall

By LARRY HARTSTEIN

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Since its creation four months ago, the Dunwoody Police Department has arrested nearly 30 people for boosting more than $50,000 worth of clothes from Perimeter Mall.

Victoria’s Secret, J. Crew, Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister Co. are among the stores that have been hit.

The biggest arrest came last month when three “professional shoplifters” from New York City were caught with $22,295 worth of merchandise, Sgt. Mike Carlson said.

Felipe Torres, 26, Yuliana Flores, 23, and Luisa Chavez, 23, used a device to pull sensors off the clothes before stuffing them in bags, Carlson said.

“They worked as a booster team,” Carlson said. “They would just rip off the sensors and walk out. When mall security notified us, we started watching these three. They went out to their car and unloaded three times.”

The trio was arrested in the parking lot. Each was charged with felony shoplifting, possession of burglary tools and theft by receiving stolen property.

Carlson said police will keep working with mall security to reduce shoplifting.