SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI — On January 10, the Shelby Township Police Department responded to a report of retail fraud at Ulta Beauty, located at 7728 26 Mile Road, where three women allegedly stole $6,000 worth of merchandise. The store manager informed officers that the suspects left without paying for the items.
The Shelby Township Police Department’s Special Investigation Unit was assigned to the case and began investigating. Detectives reviewed Flock cameras, which helped identify a potential suspect vehicle linked to the theft. They also discovered that the vehicle had been seen near Ulta Beauty stores in other jurisdictions.
The investigation led detectives to Toledo, Ohio, where the vehicle was spotted. Local law enforcement, in coordination with Shelby Township detectives, located the vehicle and detained the three suspects. Further investigation revealed more stolen merchandise inside the vehicle.
The women were identified as Nayely De Los Santos-Arana, 20, from New Jersey; Brenda Ampudia-Tocto, 28, from New York; and Evelyn Romero-Berrospi, 39, from New Jersey. Additional investigations revealed that the suspects were allegedly responsible for similar thefts at Ulta Beauty stores on Hall Road in Shelby Township, in Troy, Lapeer, and Toledo, Ohio. The total value of stolen merchandise exceeded $250,000.
On January 30, De Los Santos-Arana, Ampudia-Tocto, and Romero-Berrospi were arraigned at 41-A District Court for first-degree retail fraud and organized retail crime. De Los Santos-Arana and Romero-Berrospi were granted a bond of $25,000 cash or surety, while Ampudia-Tocto’s bond was set at $2,000 cash or surety, 10%.
All three women were taken to the Macomb County Jail, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was notified and placed a detainer on them. De Los Santos-Arana faces an additional felony shoplifting charge from the Warren Police Department, while Ampudia-Tocto has four detainers for organized retail theft charges in other states, including Virginia, Massachusetts, Georgia, and Florida. Romero-Berrospi also has a hold related to a retail fraud warrant in Warren and a mental health hold.
The three women are scheduled for a probable cause conference on March 6.
Sgt. Kevin Bailey of the Shelby Township Police praised the detective team’s efforts, particularly their use of Flock technology to track down the suspects. “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.
Police Chief Robert J. Shelide expressed his pride in the department’s work: “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.”
The attorneys for the three suspects could not be reached for comment before press time.
