By Isaac Ray 

After a brief pursuit, a man and a woman were arrested for grand theft after using tinfoil to cover up security devices to steal almost $1,000 worth of Nike merchandise from a sporting goods store. 

On February 13, Coral Springs Police responded to an in-progress shoplifting call from the Dick’s Sporting Goods store located at 8921 West Atlantic Boulevard. Officers were told two people had brazenly stolen a large amount of merchandise and fled in a getaway car. 

According to the report, the manager of the store observed two individuals, later identified as Crystal Thompson, 34, of Opa Locka, and Arron Cromartie, 38, of Lauderhill, select various items, place them in a shopping cart, then enter fitting rooms. When the pair left the fitting rooms, the manager observed security devices they had removed littered all over the floor. 

Employees told police Thompson had a purse full of merchandise and Cromartie had three shopping bags full of items when the pair exited the store. The store immediately placed called the police and provided a description of the suspects. 

As police arrived, they witnessed a vehicle matching the description Dick’s had given of the getaway car traveling westbound on Atlantic Boulevard. CSPD immediately conducted a traffic stop and positively identified Thompson and Cromartie as passengers in the vehicle, alongside a man who was not involved in the crime. 

Officers could saw the three shopping bags inside the car that contained Nike branded merchandise. Officers could also see security sensors wrapped in tinfoil, a common method used to bypass security measures within stores.

A further search of the vehicle revealed Thompson’s purse contained tinfoil and a knife they believe she likely used to remove the Nike security devices. Evidence collected from both the car and personal belongings directly matched up to evidence Dick’s staff and police discovered in the fitting rooms. After returning the Nike items to the store, the value stolen was $979.99.

Officers removed Thompson and Cromartie from the vehicle and interviewed them separately. Thompson admitted to police that the pair at been at the sporting goods store earlier but denied stealing anything.  

Cromartie, who refused to speak to police, was found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest for grand theft charges in Palm Beach County. 

Thompson and Cromartie were arrested and transported to the Broward County Mail Jail and were released after each posting $1,000 bail.

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