2 women suspected in theft ring targeting area T.J. Maxx stores

The pair entered the Oxford T.J. Maxx store separately July 6 late in the afternoon the Journal-News reported Tuesday. They placed laundry baskets in their carts and moved to the area of the store with women’s purses and wallets, a loss prevention officer at the store told Oxford police.

They reportedly waited for everyone to leave that department and began removing items which they placed in the baskets. They were in the store, located at 550 S. Locust St., for about 43 minutes before heading toward the exit with purses, wallets and over-the-shoulder totes valued at $3,363.75, according to an Oxford police report.

The loss prevention officer told police that the women involved have stolen more than $25,000 in merchandise from the company’s stores in the region in the past year.

Targeted in the thefts are designer purses and accessories from high-end designer Michael Kors, said Sgt. Jon Varley, Oxford police public information officer.

The method used by the two is similar in all the cases, he told the Journal-News.

Varley said investigators believe the suspects are selling the purses themselves or taking them to someone who is doing it for them.

The officer was told the women stole items in a similar way from a T.J. Maxx store in West Chester Twp. last summer and in Springdale last September. The loss prevention officer said they also stole items from stores in Deerfield Twp. and Norwood last month and returned to the West Chester Twp. store a short time after the July 6 incident in Oxford.

He told the officer he was at the West Chester store on that occurrence and followed them outside and managed to get the basket of items from them before they fled in their vehicle. He was not able to provide a license plate number because it was covered by cardboard.

The women may also be involved in thefts from the Kohl’s store in West Chester Twp., according to police.