Persistent Shoplifters Continue to Roam NYC Despite Numerous Arrests
A group of audacious shoplifters remains active in New York City, continuing their thefts even after a staggering 254 arrests have been made.
One notable figure, 63-year-old Anthony White, was apprehended in May for robbery shortly after being released from prison in December. Records indicate he stole from a store where he’d already been banned for theft, but a judge released him after he complained about the latest incident.
The rise in shoplifting has led some stores to escalate security measures, locking items behind plastic barriers. Although the overall crime rate has dropped by 10% this year, shoplifting incidents have surged by 89%, escalating from over 14,286 cases last year to more than 27,705 this year.
Law enforcement officials, as well as critics, have expressed concerns that petty criminals are often released almost immediately after being caught, impeding efforts to restore NYPD tactics to pre-2020 levels. According to NYPD data, 1,288 individuals are responsible for 45% of shoplifting offenses, with just four repeat offenders accounting for 795 arrests.
Police have condemned a lenient criminal justice system that allows these offenders to return to the streets so quickly. “They keep going out and committing the same crimes again,” remarked one officer, who has dealt with several of these repeat offenders.
On May 15, White was caught at the iconic Rockefeller Plaza after stealing two shirts by hiding them under his sweatshirt and trying to walk out without paying. He faced minor theft charges and was released the next day, with the judge opting for supervised release even after prosecutors requested a substantial bail.
His shoplifting spree continued just a week later, on May 25, when he hit a Duane Reade store in Midtown, lifting various personal care items. Days later, he attempted to steal baby wipes from a Walgreens, even though he was banned from that location.
Prosecutors noted that White had several pending felony theft cases and had been paroled for a robbery conviction before his latest offenses. It’s hard not to wonder, when will this cycle stop? A police source firmly stated, “He has been arrested 254 times; this person should be incarcerated for a significant period.”
Another prolific thief, Davaghn Gethers, has been arrested 235 times, primarily for shoplifting, and was released on bail after his most recent arrest on May 27.
Police describe Gethers as indifferent to his arrests. “He just shrugs it off and says, ‘I don’t care. They’ll let me go,’” one source reported. Laron Mack, with 203 arrests, offers another example of this trend. His latest arrest occurred on June 28 at a Duane Reade store.
Jacob Poole represents yet another case, having been arrested 103 times for shoplifting in Manhattan. On April 30, the 32-year-old stole $215 worth of chicken from a South Street Seaport business, reportedly threatening employees in the process.
It’s a concerning pattern, as multiple sources have pointed out. “They repeatedly engage in the same behavior and simply walk free afterward,” one officer noted, lamenting the lack of effective rehabilitation.
