Rehoboth retail outlets targeted by thieves

An organized retail theft operation has been taken down at the Tanger Outlets in Rehoboth.

Delaware State Troopers have arrested 31 year old Lakorya Harrison of Raleigh, North Carolina, and 28 year old Joshua R. Knox of Lawrenceville, Georgia.

According to police, Harrison and Knox would enter different Tanger Outlet stores and make purchases or attempt to make purchases on items using pre-paid credit cards that were coded with various victims’ account numbers. Some of the purchases were greater than $800.00.

Investigators said it all started after a fraud alert came from the Sunglass Hut in the shopping center. That’s where store employees became suspicious after two people made a $440.00 purchase using a pre-paid American Express credit card, then tried to make another big purchase minutes later on the same card. That second purchase was denied by the credit card company. The two customers fled the store and drove off in a white Cadillac Escalade.

Police later located the vehicle in the area, but no one was inside. A short time later, Harrison and Knox were spotted exiting the Dooney & Burke retail store, heading towards the Cadillac. Knox gained troopers attention when he dropped a bag on the ground and tried to run after noticing police outside the store. Police recovered the bag that contained two small packs of less than a gram of powered cocaine.

Police also discovered multiple American Express pre-paid credit cards, a laptop computer, a credit card coding device, and merchandise from various outlets, including Victoria’s Secrets and Michael Kors in the vehicle after securing a search warrant.

Both Harrison and Knox are now behind bars. Harrison was charged with several counts of theft, conspiracy, forgery and criminal impersonation. Knox was charged with similar counts as well as possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Anyone with information regarding this incident or information on the identity of others that may be involved can call detectives at 302-752-3812. Tips can also be submitted online at delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.