Women Steal From CVS, Then Return Items (Not Because They Felt Badly)

Lt. Bill Lyver of the said a recent "return of stolen merchandise" is not a case of a thief suddenly finding her conscience or religion. It is, rather, a scam where merchandise was shoplifted from CVS at one store, and returned later to another without a receipt.

According to police, loss prevention personnel had been monitoring the activities of two females who had been stealing merchandise, and then returning the merchandise to stores for cash or credit.

"The women were discovered in the Northborough store returning items from the same store," said Lyver. "Surveillance camera footage shows a female take two items from display shelves and placing the two items in her pants pocket and walk out of the store without purchasing the items. The item stolen was valued at $20.99." 

Later in the day, surveillance footage reveals the same woman returning the item for a refund. She gave the cashier her Massachusetts driver's license number, which was written on the receipt, and then signed the receipt.

The matter, said Lyver, is being investigated by officers, who are attempting to locate and interview the suspect. Her identity is known and she will be summonsed to Westborough District Court for violating larceny laws on two counts.

"This is a very common retail crime," added Lyver. "Often times the stolen merchandise is returned and depending upon the store policy, which is usually based upon on whether or not a receipt accompanies the returned item(s), cash, store gift cards or a store merchandise credit are offered. Gift cards can then be sold for cash at a discounted rated on the street or used to make 'legitimate' purchases. It is usually in the log as a shoplifting or fraud. In either situation the thief makes a profit off the originally stolen merchandise."