MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Police Department (MPD) is asking for the public’s help in identifying suspects from seven separate shoplifting incidents that occurred last week. The department posted surveillance photos of the individuals on its Facebook page Tuesday morning.
One notable incident took place on June 17 at the Dollar General on James Road. Around 1:20 p.m., two suspects reportedly entered the store, filled two shopping carts with numerous cases of Coca-Cola products, and left without paying. The stolen merchandise is valued at approximately $537. Police say the suspects fled the scene in a silver, four-door Nissan Sentra with Tennessee license plate 909 BKL.
These appeals for information come as a new law, the Organized Retail Crime Prevention Act, is set to take effect on July 1. This expanded legislation will bring increased penalties for various offenses, including removing anti-shoplifting devices, tampering with fire alarms, and selling stolen goods online.
Jonathan McGraw of the Tennessee Organized Retail Crime Alliance highlighted the severe impact of such crimes: “Unfortunately, when businesses are impacted, they have to make very difficult decisions, and sometimes those decisions are to close a business in a community where it’s very much needed, and you may be talking about a grocery store, a pharmacy.”
Former prosecutor Forrest Edwards, who works with McGraw, emphasized that the new law also targets repeat everyday shoplifting. “Gone are the days where you can continually go into a business and steal, get time served and then be out the next day to commit the same crime,” Edwards stated. “We are charging individuals who are repeat shoplifters with burglary, which is a Class D felony that carries 2-12 years in prison.”
