Authorities in South Windsor, Connecticut, apprehended two individuals on Sunday in connection with an alleged attempt to use fraudulent credit cards for merchandise theft at a local Costco store. The arrests occurred around 3 p.m., according to an announcement made Monday by the South Windsor Police Department (SWPD).
Details of the Incident
Police identified the suspects as 35-year-old Brittany A. Howard of the Bronx, New York, and 34-year-old Kasheem M. Williams of Brooklyn. Both are suspected of being involved in a series of shoplifting incidents targeting Costco locations.
The SWPD reported that officers were dispatched to the Costco at 1220 Tamarack Avenue following reports of two individuals actively shoplifting and attempting to complete purchases at self-checkout stations using counterfeit financial instruments.
Store personnel had reportedly received prior alerts regarding the same suspects, who were allegedly linked to a similar scheme at another Costco store located in Enfield, approximately a 30-minute drive north of South Windsor.
Upon responding to the scene, officers conducted an investigation that led to the discovery of 28 stolen financial documents, each bearing a different name, inside the suspects' vehicle. Additionally, merchandise believed to have been stolen from the Enfield Costco location was found in the vehicle.
Additional Charges and Warrants
Following their apprehension, law enforcement officials determined that both individuals had active arrest warrants from other states. Kasheem M. Williams was found to have an extraditable warrant from Suffolk County, New York, covering multiple serious charges including burglary, strangulation, and assault.
Brittany A. Howard also had an extraditable warrant, issued from Hudson County, New Jersey, pertaining to charges of credit card theft.
In addition to their out-of-state legal issues, both suspects now face new charges in Connecticut. These include 28 counts of payment card theft, larceny, identity theft, and conspiracy.
The South Windsor Police Department stated that Howard and Williams were each held on a $250,000 surety bond. They were scheduled to appear in Manchester Superior Court on Monday morning.