Pair Stole $1,800 In Items From Fairfield Stop & Shop, Police Say

FAIRFIELD, CT — Two New York men believed to be associated with an organized theft ring face several charges after they were caught attempting to steal thousands of dollars in health and beauty products from a Fairfield grocery store, police said.

Officers were contacted about 6:30 p.m. Sunday by security at Super Stop & Shop, 760 Villa Ave., about two men, later identified as Akanilli Dekattu and Tequan Robinson, who were seen on surveillance video putting health and beauty items in a large black bag, according to a Facebook post from Fairfield police. A security officer said he recognized the men from a shoplifting bulletin sent to area stores, the post said.

Police responded to the retailer and were outside when Dekattu and Robinson were leaving, according to the post, which said the men fled on foot, dropping the black bag in the parking lot. Robinson tried to reach a running vehicle in the lot, but was taken into custody, the post said, adding Robinson spit at an officer while being put in the back of a police vehicle. Dekattu was taken into custody near the Dunkin Donuts parking lot at 200 Tunxis Hill Road, according to the post.

Inside the suspect vehicle, officers found a second black bag containing a large amount of health and beauty merchandise that was determined to have been stolen from another Stop & Shop, the post said. Robinson and Dekattu stole $1,804.49 worth of items from the Fairfield store, according to the post, and the stolen merchandise in their vehicle was valued at $616.61.

Both men also had large amounts of cash, which is believed to be proceeds from the sale of stolen merchandise and was seized by police, the post said.

Robinson and Dekattu are thought to be members of a large organized retail theft ring responsible for numerous incidents since Jan. 16 at Stop & Shop stores in New York and Connecticut, according to the post, which said the ring is believed to have cost Stop & Shop over $30,000 in losses.

Robinson, 20, of New York, New York, was arrested and charged with organized retail theft, fourth-degree larceny by shoplifting, conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny, assaulting an officer, interfering with an officer, and fifth-degree larceny by possession, the post said.

Dekattu, 23, of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested and charged with organized retail theft, fourth-degree larceny by shoplifting, conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny, interfering with an officer, and fifth-degree larceny by possession, according to the post.

A $10,000 bond was placed on both Robinson and Dekattu and they are set to appear in court Feb. 20, the post said. Both men paid 10 percent of their cash bond and were released, according to the post.