CRANSTON, R.I. — Three men, Keiner Perez Salas, Howard Garcia, and Beickel Arellano, were arrested at Providence Place Mall on charges of larceny and conspiracy after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise.
Police say this wasn’t their first theft. The trio is also linked to multiple shoplifting incidents at Garden City, where items worth approximately $7,000 were stolen. Police believe they are part of a South American retail theft group that targets high-end stores across the Northeast, stealing expensive goods to resell in major cities like New York.
The suspects allegedly used aluminum-lined bags to bypass security measures, a tactic that highlights the group’s increasingly professional methods. Col. Michael Winquist, Cranston’s police chief, stated, “These thieves target products they can quickly sell, and they are using sophisticated techniques to avoid detection.”
The men, who are originally from Venezuela, could face additional scrutiny, with ICE potentially becoming involved in their case.
Police have issued a warrant for a fourth suspect involved in the thefts.
