MURFREESBORO, TN – Murfreesboro Detectives are asking for assistance in identifying three persons of interest after another shoplifting incident was reported. This incident unfolded late last month on October 25th and the targeted store in this case was one that is known for selling shoes.
According to police, the trio entered the Stones River Town Centre on Old Fort Parkway and made their way to the Finish Line athletic apparel store. Once inside the outlet, the three unidentified subjects allegedly began their shoplifting expedition. However, WGNS cannot tell you the value of the loss or how many items were stolen.
When we asked MPD Public Information Officer Larry Flowers what the value of the theft was he told us, “Detective Gonzalez requested that not be released.” So, WGNS cannot confirm if the theft added up to $10 or $10,000. Regardless, the somewhat secretive theft case remains under investigation.
In thousands of theft cases around the state, shoplifters attempt to return stolen merchandise to get cash back or to receive a store gift card that can later be sold. Sometimes, the suspect in the theft case is the same suspect who makes the return; while other cases involve one person stealing merchandise and another one making fraudulent returns. However, if subjects attempt to make a fraudulent return at Finish Line, they may run into a roadblock.
The Indianapolis based store began implementing a program in 2005 that uses predictive analytics to identify and stop "high-risk returners." The store has utilized big data for quite some time to lower their risk of losing money. When making a return at stores like the Finish Line, the customer’s ID is scanned into a system that is tied to a database of thousands of stores around the nation. Customers names that are linked to a high number of returns elsewhere, may be turned down. Because of ID scanning and database tracking, the Finish Line has been able to dramatically reduce fraudulent returns. As for the shoplifting - that remains a work in progress.
If you know any details about the Finish Line theft that occurred on October 25, 2023, Murfreesboro Police would like to hear from you. If you can identify any of the three females caught on camera at the time of the theft, Detective Aaron Gonzalez would appreciate a phone call. You can reach him at 629-201-5638.
DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.
