'Bra bandits' busted in Florida
Tysheka Pink, 29, of Miami, has been charged with two counts of grand theft and one count of organized scheme to defraud. Katina Summerset, 39, of Florida City, was charged with grand theft.
According to the Boca Raton Police Department, investigators have been searching for the "brassiere bandits" for several months. One of the most recent incidents occurred on Jan. 20, when a woman distracted a clerk at a Victoria's Secret in Boca Raton while her accomplices stole over $3,000 in bras.
When detectives went to the store to investigate the crime, they were told the merchandise had been returned at another store.
Victoria's Secret Loss Prevention Manager, Osmany Benitez, told detectives that less than two hours before the crime in Boca Raton, Pink and another female, were in their store in Miami Beach returning stolen items from a prior theft. Benitez told detectives the two females in Miami were dressed in the same clothing as the suspects who were seen on surveillance video in the Boca store when the theft occurred.
Benitez told detectives Pink and the other female had returned merchandise to various stores dating from October 2011 to January 2012 valued at over $6,000. In mid-February, Boca Raton detectives spoke with Boynton Beach detectives who told them they had active warrants for Pink for similar crimes.
On Feb. 29, Benitez called Boca Raton police and told them he was following Pink and Summerset, at the Town Center Mall. Officers located Pink and placed her under arrest for several outstanding warrants. A short time later, officers arrested Summerset.
Summerset allegedly told police that she had been working with Pink for months, stealing clothing from different stores in Boynton Beach and Boca Raton. Summerset said they either kept the items or returned them for other merchandise or gift cards. Summerset also admitted to committing the theft from Victoria's Secret with Pink, police said.
When investigators reviewed Victoria's Secret surveillance video from earlier in the day on Feb. 29, they allegedly saw Pink and Summerset enter the store without shopping bags, go to a display table, and leave carrying a white shopping bag. Benitez told detectives he had found the shopping bag outside the store and that it contained over 90 bras valued at $4,500.
According to the Victoria's Secret website, their bras – depending on material and style -- retail from about $30 to $50.
Pink and Summerset have since been released from the Palm Beach County Jail on $4,500 bond.
source: huffingtonpost