Teen Shoplifter Linked To Antisemitic Flyers In Fair Oaks: Police

FAIR OAKS, VA — A teen arrested for shoplifting at Target was linked to the distribution of antisemitic flyers in the Fair Oaks area last week, according to the Fairfax County Police.

On Sunday, officers responded to the report of a shoplifting suspect in custody at the Target located at 13047 Fair Lakes Shopping Center. The store's security personnel told police that they took the suspect into custody after observing him stealing a staple gun, sandwich bags, glue, and other items.

Related: Antisemitic Flyer Distributed In Fair Oaks Under Investigation: FCPD

Through their investigation, police linked the suspect to the distribution of antisemitic flyers in multiple neighborhoods in the Fair Oaks recently

Police charged the teen suspect with petit larceny. The suspect is being held at the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center, according to police.

Police received numerous reports last Friday and Saturday of "suspicious flyers portraying bias material" being distributed in the Fair Oaks area.

Patch obtained a copy of the flyer but is not publishing it in order to avoid spreading the content to a wider audience. The flyer contains many antisemitic tropes.

Each year, the Anti-Defamation League publishes an audit of incidents of antisemitic harassment, vandalism and assault across the U.S. ADL reported in March that there were 3,697 antisemitic incidents throughout the U.S. in 2022. Not only was this a 36 percent increase over the 2,717 reported in 2021, but it was the third time in the past five years that the year-end total was the highest ever recorded.

Anyone who is a victim of or who witnesses a bias crime or incident is asked to contact FCPD at 911, if the incident is in progress, or the police non-emergency number at 703-691-2131 if it's not.