Delaware State Police News Release Timothy E. Winstead

DSP News Release: Sunday, April 05, 2009- This was One Heck of a Shopping Spree

Location of Incident: Various locations… from the Northern part of Delaware to the beaches

Date and Time of Occurrence: Saturday, April 2, 2009

Suspect(s):

Neveah Akins, 15, of Philadelphia
Latoya Donaldson, 23, of Philadelphia
Porcha Love, 23, of Philadelphia
Nachiema Whitaker, 23, of Philadelphia

Resume: Yesterday afternoon, at about 5:00 p.m., Troopers were called to the Puma Store in the Tanger Outlets, Center 1, for a reported shoplifting.

Officers arrived on the scene and were advised four women had just shoplifted from their store and they were currently walking in the parking lot. Officers quickly took off after the bandits and located them getting into their vehicle. The four females were taken into custody without incident, but not before providing the officers with false names.

This investigation revealed the suspects, listed above, had responded to Puma, 9-West and Polo and stole merchandise. They committed their crimes by concealing goods in large bags they brought with them and also by placing items in ‘booster bags.’ Booster bags are commonly lined in a metallic substance with hinders the stores theft alarm. Also, the ladies cut away security devices, damaging some of the clothing.

A search of the suspect’s vehicle yielded additional stolen merchandise from the Christiana Mall in Newark, Delaware. This theft occurred earlier in the day. This investigation is still pending.

The value of all of the stolen merchandise exceeded $1,000.00.

The four suspects were charged with the following offenses: two counts of Possession of Shoplifting Tools (felony), Shoplifting (felony), Conspiracy 2^nd (felony), Criminal Impersonation (misdemeanor) and two counts of Criminal Mischief (misdemeanor).

All four suspects were turned over to the appropriate detention facility, due to their ages, in default of a $12,000.00 cash only bond. Their mug shots are not available.