Police arrest 3 women for large retail theft in Michigan, Ohio

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — On Jan. 10, the Shelby Township Police Department responded to Ulta Beauty at 7728 26 Mile Road for a retail fraud report. The manager advised the police officer that three women entered the business and left the store with $6,000 worth of inventory that they had not paid for.

The Shelby Township Police Department Special Investigation Unit was assigned to the case. Detectives started to check Flock cameras and were able to locate a possible vehicle involved. The Flock cameras showed the same vehicle had been seen in other jurisdictions near Ulta Beauty stores, according to Shelby Township police.

The possible suspect vehicle was spotted near Toledo, Ohio. Detectives from Shelby Township reached out to law enforcement in Ohio and provided them with a description of the vehicle and suspects. Law enforcement officers from Ohio, with help from Shelby Township police detectives, were able to locate and detain the three suspects.

The officers in Ohio reportedly were able to locate more stolen merchandise in the vehicle. The three suspects were identified as Nayely De Los Santos-Arana, 20, out of New Jersey; Brenda Ampudia-Tocto, 28, out of New York; and Evelyn Romero-Berrospi, 39, out of New Jersey.

Further investigation by detectives from Shelby Township showed that the women allegedly were also responsible for retail fraud from Ulta on Hall Road in Shelby Township, Ulta in Troy, Ulta in Lapeer and Ulta in Toledo, Ohio. Detectives reportedly were still working to see if other Ulta Beauty stores might have been involved. All three suspects were extradited back to Michigan and charged.

Ulta Beauty reported that the three women are responsible for more than $250,000 of stolen merchandise, according to Shelby Township police.

On Jan. 30, De Los Santos-Arana, Ampudia-Tocto and Romero-Berrospi were arraigned at 41-A District Court in front of Magistrate James VerPloeg for first-degree retail fraud and organized retail crime.

De Los Santos-Arana and Romero-Berrospi were each given the bond of $25,000 cash or surety. Ampudia-Tocto’s band was set at $2,000 cash or surety, 10%

The three suspects were transported and lodged at the Macomb County Jail.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement was contacted and a detainer was placed on all three women. De Los Santos-Arana has a second hold for a warrant from the Warren Police Department for felony shoplifting. Additionally, Ampudia-Tocto has four detainers from Virginia, Massachusetts, Georgia and Florida for extradition to face organized retail theft charges in those states, according to Macomb County Jail records. Romero-Berrospi additionally has a hold from the 37th District Court in Warren for a first-degree retail fraud warrant, and a mental health hold, according to Macomb County Jail records.

All three women are due back in 41-A District Court for a probable cause conference on March 6.

Shelby Township Police Sgt. Kevin Bailey complimented the work of the detectives in piecing the case together.

“With the help of Flock, they were able to locate the vehicle in question and get the three females into custody in Ohio,” he said.

Shelby Township Police Chief Robert J. Shelide said he couldn’t be prouder of the detectives.

“Every day our detectives serve with integrity and dedication to fight crime. Their hard work does not go unnoticed. Our department is committed to cracking down on crime and holding these offenders liable. Let this be a reminder to criminals, if you think about committing a crime in our community, you will face the consequences,” he said.

The attorneys for the three women — Lawrence A Williams, Jaxon Randell Goodman and Deborah M. Weihermuller — could not be reached for comment before press time.