Jadion Richards, 44, and Akwele Lawes-Richards, 45, from Connecticut, were arrested on November 14 in a Lululemon store in Woodbury, Minnesota, on charges of organized retail theft. This arrest comes after a lengthy investigation which revealed that the couple is suspected of stealing approximately $1 million worth of merchandise from various Lululemon locations across the United States.
According to court documents, the day before their arrest, the couple and an unidentified accomplice were involved in a theft at another Lululemon store in Roseville, Minnesota, where they allegedly stole goods valued at nearly $5,000. An investigator for Lululemon linked the couple to a series of thefts beginning in September, attributing significant financial losses to the retailer.
The method of theft described in the complaint involves Richards entering the store first to make small purchases. He and Lawes-Richards would then manipulate security sensors from other items, attaching them to the purchased items to facilitate stealing additional merchandise, which they concealed under their clothing. They allegedly used a third accomplice to exit the store with stolen goods, creating a diversion with the security sensors to distract staff.
Following their arrest, police executed a search warrant on a hotel room rented by Richards at the J.W. Marriott in Bloomington, Minnesota. Inside, they discovered suitcases filled with an estimated $50,000 worth of Lululemon clothing.
Lululemon’s vice president of asset protection, Tristen Shields, emphasized the company’s commitment to safety and security, noting ongoing collaborations with law enforcement and investments in technology and training to combat retail theft.
Both individuals have been released on bail—Lawes-Richards on $30,000 and Richards on $100,000—with requirements for weekly check-ins. They are scheduled to appear in court again on December 16 as the legal proceedings continue.
