Fairfax County detectives have charged three teenagers with grand larceny after recovering more than $4,500 of allegedly stolen merchandise from a vehicle the trio was in, following reports of multiple thefts in Tysons.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, detectives from the Tysons Urban Team responded to a report of a larceny at a store in the 1900 block of Chain Bridge Road in Tysons around 12:38 p.m. on June 3.
“An employee from a retail clothing store reported three women grabbed merchandise and ran from the store without paying for it,” police said in a press release. “During the investigation, detectives learned the women had also stolen merchandise from several other retail clothing stores at Tysons Corner Center. Detectives quickly identified a vehicle connected to the women in a nearby parking garage.”
Shortly afterward, a loss prevention officer from another store located in the 2000 block of International Drive also told detectives about a similar theft.
Auto crimes enforcement officers then used Flock cameras, which scan license plates, to find the vehicle in the 2900 block of District Avenue in Merrifield, police said. The department’s use of automated license plate readers has been controversial, with police touting benefits for crime prevention, and others citing ethical and privacy implications around surveillance.
The three individuals found in the car were taken into custody without incident, police said.
Two 18-year-old women from D.C. have been charged with three counts of grand larceny, stolen property with intent to sell, conspiracy to commit larceny and petit larceny. One of them was also charged with possession of burglarious tools.
Both were released on unsecured $2,000 bonds.
The third person, a 17-year-old from Maryland, was charged by petition with three counts of grand larceny, larceny with intent to sell or distribute, conspiracy to commit a felony, and petit larceny. She was released to her parents.
Police said that all the merchandise was recovered and returned to the retailers.
