Per Fairfax County Police: Officers assigned to the Tysons Urban Team (TUT) successfully prevented an organized retail theft crew from carrying out their intended plan and made a swift arrest. On July 13, officers received a tip from Sak’s Fifth Ave Regional Loss Prevention team that the Saks Fifth Avenue store located in Chevy Chase, Maryland reported a retail theft crew left the store in a gold Chevrolet Impala with Pennsylvania tags.
With this information, TUT officers utilized LPR technology and learned that the vehicle had entered Virginia and was in the immediate vicinity. The vehicle was located and observed by TUT units heading in the direction of Saks Fifth Avenue in McLean. The vehicle’s occupants were observed by the TUT team entering the store. Once in the store, they selected multiple high-end handbags and other luxury merchandise and headed toward the exit without paying. When approached by the store’s Loss Prevention team, the two suspects ran. TUT units were already in the area and were able to take one suspect into custody. The other suspect was found in a nearby dumpster after a brief search of the area. The driver of the vehicle was soon located and taken into custody, as well.
A representative from another retail store reported that one of the suspects had stolen from their business, as well. Officers were able to recover approximately $15,000 worth of stolen property.
Ericka Williams, 26, of Philadelphia, was charged with grand larceny, larceny with intent to sell or distribute, conspire to commit larceny, organized retail theft, and obstruction of justice – resisting arrest. Amin Shamsid-Deen, 30, of Philadelphia, was charged with grand larceny, larceny with intent to sell or distribute, conspire to commit larceny, organized retail theft, and obstruction of justice – resisting arrest. Tunisia Amina Shamsid-Deen, 32, of Philadelphia, was charged with grand larceny (2x), larceny with intent to sell or distribute, conspire to commit larceny, organized retail theft, possession of schedule I/II drug, and disregarding signal by law-enforcement officer to stop – eluding police.
All offenders were transported to the Adult Detention Center and held without bond.
*Pictured: Ericka Williams, Amin Shamsid-Deen, Tunisia Amina Shamsid-Deen*