By: Sarah Wojcik | Shelby - Utica News | Published November 30, 2015

Surveillance video from Dick’s Sporting Goods shows the person who grabbed 10 North Face jackets off a rack, ran out of the store without paying, and got into a white Chevrolet Malibu Nov. 10. Photo provided by David Faber


UTICA — At approximately 11:25 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, police responded to Dick’s Sporting Goods, near Hall and Schoenherr roads, for a retail fraud in progress.

The caller said the suspect, a black female, removed several North Face jackets from the rack, ran out of the store without paying, and got into a white Chevrolet Malibu driven by a white male.

The caller stated that the duo fled the lot south toward Hall Road.

While en route to the store, police performed traffic stops on two vehicles matching the suspect’s vehicle description, but police determined that neither vehicle was involved in the incident.

Once at the store, an asset protection officer told police that the suspect went directly to the North Face rack and removed approximately 10 jackets worth $100 apiece, for a total loss of approximately $1,000.

During review of the surveillance video, the asset protection officer told police that the female suspect may have been a male dressed as a woman, saying the suspect was “approximately 6 foot 5 inches tall with an athletic build,” wearing women’s clothing and possibly a wig.

Utica Police Chief David Faber said similar incidents have previously taken place at various retail stores around the city, but not for the last two to three months.

“Different stores in the area had someone shoplifting, with (witnesses identifying) the man dressed as a woman,” Faber said. “We’ve got nothing to say for sure.”

He said that in each incident, the suspect grabbed a bunch of merchandise, sometimes snapping cords that had attached the merchandise to the racks, and quickly exited the store without making an effort to conceal the stolen items.

“I think (the suspect opts for) whatever opportunity presents itself or what’s close,” Faber said. “Obviously, with the North Face jackets, the resale on those would be pretty valuable to criminals.”

He said police are attempting to review surveillance video from inside the stores, as well as parking lot surveillance footage to glean more information or a license plate number, but the issue they have is that the footage is unclear.

“We see all kinds of things now, and when people want to steal, they’re going to try any which way possible they can to get away with it, if that’s what’s set in their mind,” Faber said.

Utica Police ask that anyone with information related to the case call them at (586) 731-2345.