WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA — Three people were arrested following a retail theft investigation at a Home Depot on Dec. 17.
Tyree Jackson-Woods, 36, of Springfield, Donald Howard, 60, of Springfield, and Charlene Harrison, 39, of Springfield, were each charged with shoplifting by asportation over $250 and conspiracy.
Howard was also charged with a second offense of shoplifting by asportation over $250.
The arrests were part of Operation Safe Shopper, a proactive plan initiated by Chief Gearing that focuses on increased patrols and police details in retail shopping areas.
At approximately 7:20 p.m., police were notified through the FLOCK Safety license plate reading system of a flagged white Toyota Camry traveling on Route 5 south.
The vehicle was known to police as being involved in numerous retail thefts from the Home Depot.
Detectives in unmarked vehicles spotted the Camry parked in the Home Depot lot.
A GMC Terrain, also involved in several shoplifting cases, parked next to the Camry.
A male subject exited the Terrain and entered the Home Depot through the main entrance.
A female subject then exited the Camry and entered the store through the same entrance.
Undercover detectives entered the store and observed Harrison acting as a lookout for the group.
Another detective observed Jackson-Woods loading flooring boxes totaling $866.12 on a flatbed cart and staging the cart near aisle 14.
Howard was observed walking into the store and retrieving the staged cart.
Video surveillance showed Howard exit the Camry, enter the store and walk directly to the flatbed cart.
Howard pushed the cart down the main aisle toward the entrance doors and exited the store with the unpaid merchandise.
Detectives approached Howard, identified themselves and placed him under arrest without incident.
The Toyota Camry began to drive away but was stopped by officers assigned to the Traffic Bureau.
Harrison was driving the Camry and was placed under arrest without incident.
Detectives located Jackson-Woods sitting in the GMC Terrain and placed him under arrest.
All three suspects were transported to the West Springfield Police Department for booking.
