Ten-mall shoplifting binge ends with local arrest

Two Milwaukee men with a car full of stolen clothing were arrested after they allegedly tried to take items a store at Mayfair on Thursday evening.

According to a Wauwatosa Police Department report:

The men, ages 22 and 27, set off the theft alarm at 8:35 p.m. June 21 while entering Abercrombie & Fitch, so employees were immediately suspicious. After the men tried to take several items, with a combined value of $544, an employee stepped in their way. They threatened to beat up the employee, then threw the merchandise at him and ran to a vehicle.

The car was soon located and stopped by police in the 3100 block of North Colonial Drive. The driver jumped out and ran, but police caught up to him in a nearby alley.

They both gave aliases, but their fingerprints revealed their real identities.

The vehicle was filled with clothing that still had price tags and security sensors on them. The items valued at $2,464 were taken from 10 malls from Chicago to Madison. The men also had about $1,000 cash between them, which they said they received for selling stolen merchandise.

They were both arrested for possession of stolen property, retail theft and eluding. The older man had three warrants.