According to NBC10, Inspector Raymond Evers of the Philadelphia Police stated that two women, believed to be the ringleaders of the operation, were arrested on May 30th. A 19-year-old woman named Janiyah Robinson from Philadelphia’s Tioga neighborhood and a 24-year-old woman named Ayonna Robinson of South Philadelphia were apprehended after the robbery of a Lululemon store in Suburban Square, Upper Merion Township.

Both women were charged with theft and related offenses. Inspector Evers stated that Janiyah Robinson was the primary ringleader who organized the thefts and recruited teens and children, some as young as 9 years old, to participate knowing they lacked criminal records.

At least twice, a 9-year-old girl was brought along to help carry out the thefts, unbeknownst to her parents.

How the Theft Ring Operated

According to Inspector Evers, Janiyah Robinson and Ayonna Robinson have been tied to at least 8 robberies targeting Lululemon stores on Walnut Street in Center City Philadelphia. However, the crew targeted other high-end stores beyond Lululemon, including a Givenchy store in King of Prussia Mall as well as other luxury retailers.

Typically, the theft ring would drive up to a store, enter as a group carrying large garbage bags, quickly load up on expensive merchandise, and speed away all within two minutes. By the time police could respond, the thieves were long gone.

The targeted, repeated nature of the thefts allowed the crew to steal upwards of $40,000 worth of goods from one Lululemon location alone over time. In one single Upper Merion Township robbery, 4 crew members made off with approximately $10,000 in merchandise within minutes.

Across all known robberies, the theft ring is estimated to have stolen at least $75,000 worth of retail goods which were later resold in bars and online.

Ongoing Investigations

At this time, the full extent of robberies committed by this theft crew is still unknown. Philadelphia police are combing through security footage from high-end retail stores across the region to build a more complete case. With how quickly the group struck, connecting them to more past incidents is likely.

The arrests were part of a larger crackdown in response to a rash of retail store robberies by coordinated groups in Philadelphia and suburban areas. Last month alone, Lululemon stores across the metro were hit by three different robberies within one single week.

Inspector Evers could not confirm whether the theft ring busted up last week had any overlap with a group of suspects killed in a police chase and crash on April 24th following the robbery of a Delaware County retailer. However, it demonstrates authorities taking a harsher stance on curbing these brazen robbery crews in the future through pursuits and thorough investigations.

Protecting retailers and prosecuting those who participate in organized theft rings will continue to be a priority for Philadelphia law enforcement. The use of children as young as 9 years old in these crimes has been particularly disturbing for authorities and retailers alike. Continued community cooperation and vigilance will be key to putting an end to coordinated robbery groups infiltrating stores across the city. I sincerely hope you find this “Philadelphia Retail Theft Crew Used Kids as Young as 9 – What You Need to Know” article helpful.

Skylar Lacey

Skylar Lacey, a Travel and Tourism Management graduate from Temple University, offers 5 years of experience in travel writing and airport logistics at PhiladelphiaAirport.net. Her expertise helps travelers make the most of their journeys through Philadelphia International Airport. Connect with her on Instagram for more travel tips and insights.

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