Women banned from Michigan reportedly caught stealing candles in Bloomfield Township

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Two women who were banned from entering Michigan because of previous criminal activity were reportedly caught stealing from a store in Bloomfield Township.

Bloomfield Township police were dispatched to a store in the 2100 block of South Telegraph Road for a retail fraud that had just occurred April 17.

According to reports, the two women — later identified as Kiara Bannister and Canedra Barabino —  are accused of stealing candles from the store and fleeing the shopping plaza in a silver Nissan.

When officers stopped the vehicle, they observed “a plethora of Bath and Body Works candles scattered throughout the vehicle” and recovered over $1,600 worth of stolen candles during a vehicle search.

Bannister, 24, was arrested and charged with organized retail crime and first-degree retail fraud, both felonies. Barabino, 24, was charged with organized retail fraud and misdemeanor third-degree retail fraud.

Further investigation revealed that the two had traveled from Toledo, Ohio, to Bloomfield Township to commit the theft, police said. Both had a prior conviction in 44th District Court in Royal Oak for felony organized retail fraud, and they had a probation order in Livingston County prohibiting them from entering the state of Michigan.

Both women posted $5,000 cash/surety bonds and were scheduled to appear in court May 9 for a preliminary exam.

Bannister did not have an attorney on file at press time. Barabino’s attorney, Michael P. Dean, could not be reached for comment.