A pair of thieves argued that they should receive lighter sentences because the items they stole from a Kohl's store were on sale.
The district attorney's office for Colorado's Judicial District 18, which include Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties, said in a Tuesday statement that the men's defense attorneys told a jury that their clients should face lesser charges because some of the items they stole were discounted.
The pair, Michael Green, 50, and Byron Bolden, 37, were ultimately convicted of the higher charge, felony theft, instead of the lesser, misdemeanor charge, the DA said. The thieves were called the "KitchenAid Mixer Crew" by Kohl's employees because they targeted the pricey kitchen appliances: One KitchenAid stand mixer stolen retails for $499 at Kohl's, although it's currently on sale for $350 Also stolen were brand-name shoes and clothing.
The conviction comes as retailers claim they're being targeted by organized groups of shoplifters, with Target
Shoplifting Continues to be a Major Problem for Retailers
According to a lobbying group, shoplifting costs retailers approximately $13 billion each year. However, the group retracted that figure on Friday, while still acknowledging that shoplifting remains a significant issue for retailers.
Recently, two individuals, Green and Bolden, were charged with theft in Colorado. The stolen items had a documented value of about $2,095. Under Colorado law, theft between $2,000 to $5,000 is considered a Class A felony, while theft under $2,000 is classified as a misdemeanor. Green and Bolden's attorneys argued for the misdemeanor charge, stating that the items they took were on sale.
Threat to Stores and Employees
"Retail theft is not a victimless crime," said Deputy DA Sherri Giger. She highlighted the consequences of store closures and price increases for customers. Giger also mentioned that many stores no longer attempt to confront or stop retail thieves due to the potential risk of harm to employees and customers, especially when thieves may be armed.
Earlier this month, a security guard at a Macy's location in Philadelphia was killed and another was injured while confronting a man attempting to steal hats from the store. The suspect was later apprehended.
In the Colorado case, Green and Bolden were identified by store security staff and surveillance video. Although they pleaded not guilty, Green was sentenced to 15 months in prison, while Bolden received 90 days in jail, according to the DA's office.
