Two individuals were arrested at a Costco store on Sunday after allegedly attempting to use fake credit cards to steal merchandise. The incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. in South Windsor, Connecticut. Authorities have identified the suspects as 35-year-old Brittany A. Howard and 34-year-old Kasheem M. Williams, both of whom are suspected of being serial shoplifters.
The South Windsor Police Department received a call about two shoplifters actively stealing from the store and trying to pay at the self-checkout with fraudulent credit cards. Store staff had been warned that the same suspects had attempted a similar scheme at another Costco location in Enfield, about a 30-minute drive north. This prior warning likely aided in the swift response to the incident.
Upon responding to the scene, officers discovered 28 stolen financial documents, all under different names, inside the suspects' vehicle. They also found goods believed to have been stolen from the other Costco location. The discovery of these items suggests that the suspects may have been involved in a larger scheme to steal and use stolen financial information.
After being taken into custody, authorities found that both suspects had active out-of-state warrants. Kasheem M. Williams had a warrant out of Suffolk County, New York, on charges including burglary, strangulation, and assault. Brittany A. Howard had a warrant out of Hudson County, New Jersey, on credit card theft charges. These warrants indicate that the suspects may have a history of criminal activity.
The suspects now face additional charges, including 28 counts of payment card theft, larceny, identity theft, and conspiracy. They were held on $250,000 surety bonds and were scheduled to appear in court. The severity of the charges and the high bond amount reflect the seriousness of the alleged crimes.
