Police: 3 found with $10k in stolen items at Carolina Place Mall may be linked to retail theft ring

PINEVILLE, N.C. — Three people are facing felony charges after Pineville police say they stole 115 items from JCPenney at the Carolina Place Mall Thursday.

Officers say they discovered more than $10,000 worth of stolen items in the suspects’ car. Police believe Rashard Tolliver, Erin Robbs and Kimberly Clarke are part of an organized retail theft group that has operated throughout the East Coast.

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Officers arrested the trio at the Place Mall Thursday.

“They did know what they were doing. They were professionals,” Lt. Corey Copley, of Pineville PD, said. “Fortunately, we were there to unravel their plan.”

Police say Tolliver and Robbs were stashing items near the doorway of the JCPenney store when police confronted them.

The suspects tried to run but were caught by officers swarming the area.

The Pineville PD says Clarke was waiting in a getaway car. Police say the suspects had two large magnets and two pairs of wire cutters to damage sensor tags and avoid being caught.

Clarke, Robbs, Tolliver Clarke, Robbs, Tolliver (Pineville Police Department)

“They may have hit a store before they came to our area and likely they were going hit something after but fortunately, we were able to stop them,” Copley said.

Police say other stores impacted include Carter’s and Old Navy.

Tolliver is facing charges of felony larceny, possession of stolen goods and resisting a public officer. Robbs is facing a felony larceny charge. Clarke is facing charges of conspiracy to commit felony larceny, resisting a public officer and having an outstanding felony warrant.