Crime & Safety

U City Woman Arrested After Trying to Steal From Macy's, Victoria's Secret

A pair of St. Louis County residents attempted to use an altered to shopping bag to bypass security to shoplift from Mid Rivers Mall in St. Peters.

A modified shopping bag didn't help two St. Louis County residents elude St. Peters Police at Mid Rivers Mall. 

Damesha M. Mitchell, 19, and Claudell Webb Jr., 22, were arrested by St. Peters Police after attempting to steal nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise from Macy's and Victoria's Secret. Both were charged with a Class C felony stealing charge for theft of items more than $500. 

According to police, an officer observed Mitchell and Webb enter a fitting room with a Forever 21 shopping bag and several Polo shirts and hats at Macy's on Dec. 14. The pair then exited the fitting room with less merchandise than they had entered with. The officer said the duo then left the store without attempting to purchase anything. 

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After a brief struggle, both were caught and escorted to Macy's security room. The Forever 21 shopping bag was found to be line with aluminium foli and duct tape—a process police said is used to bypass the security sensors. Inside the bag police found several items from Macy's and Victoria's Secret, some with and some without security tags. 

Police said the items taken from Macy's were valued at at $722. The items from Victoria's Secret were valued at $210.50. After a search of the duo's vehicle, police discovered $526.86 worth of merchandise from Marshalls. 

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According to the probable cause statment, Mitchell, from the 1200 block of Hafner Place in University City, told police she came Mid Rivers Mall to steal. 

Webb, of the 200 block of Meadowcrest, was apprehended by police wearing a Ralph Lauren vest jacket with a Macy's price tag still attached. Officers noticed his shoes also had a tag on them, but he refused to remove his shoes. 

The pair were charged Dec. 17, 2012. Bond was set at $15,000, cash only. 


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