Wrentham Police Make Shoplifting Arrests at Outlets

The Wrentham Police Department has released the following information:

"On March 17, 2012 at about 5:30pm, Wrentham police officers on detail at the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets were notified of a shoplifting at the True Religion Store.

"Information received indicated a male suspect, later identified as Howard Watson, age 54, of 199 Pavilion Ave., Providence, RI, entered True Religion carrying a Nike bag. A female accomplice, later identified as Teandra Rose, age 50, of 199 Pavilion Ave., Providence RI, was reported to be with him.

'Watson was observed crouching next to a display filling his bag with jeans. When confronted by an employee, Watson dumped the bag on the floor, pushed the employee out of the way and fled to the parking lot. Detail Officer Ed Fitzgerald who was on foot at the time, spotted the suspects as they ran into the parking lot, entered a green Oldsmobile Cutlass and sped away toward the exit.

"Detail Officer Robert O’Connell who was in a cruiser gave chase onto Rt. 495 where he stopped the vehicle, assisted by Detective Lt. Bill McGrath and the Massachusetts State Police. Both suspects were placed under arrest and ten pairs of jeans were recovered from the car.

"Follow up investigation and review of video surveillance from the store, revealed a total of 31 pairs of jeans, estimated value about $6,000, were stolen over two separate visits within about an hour of each other. The suspects used a large plastic Nike shopping bag lined heavily with duct tape, a common method employed by booster gangs that frequent the mall. The duct tape is meant to defeat the inventory control system; however, the tactic frequently fails because of enhanced technology.

"Both suspects were charged with shoplifting. Mr. Watson was also charged with assault & battery on the employee. Ms. Rose was additionally charged for providing a false name to police."