Montco man accused of leading violent shoplifting ring that stole $155,000 from high-end stores, including Lululemon, Givenchy
Nehemeiah Jones, 31, of Norristown, allegedly had associates, including juveniles, target stores and assault employees with mace and pepper spray.
A 31-year-old Norristown man has been charged with allegedly running a violent shoplifting ring that stole more than $155,000 from high-end stores including Lululemon, Givenchy, and Nordstrom across the Philadelphia region, authorities said Thursday.
Nehemeiah Jones, who is also listed as Nehemiah in court records, is accused of targeting stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware since April 2024, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said.
As Jones was allegedly running this shoplifting ring, he was a defendant in another criminal case in Montgomery County facing felony retail theft conspiracy charges, court records show.
Jones has served several jail sentences since 2015 related to retail theft convictions, court records show.
He was arrested Monday by Pennsylvania State Police and was being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after he was unable to post $250,000 bail, Steele said.
Since April 2024, according to the affidavit of probable cause, Jones had other people, often juveniles, stealing from stores and spraying “store employees with mace, and pepper or bear spray during the commission of high-value retail thefts.”
The affidavit said: “Jones planned each operation by recruiting ‘drivers’ to operate rental vehicles, specifically rented for the purpose of committing thefts. Additionally, Jones recruited ‘runners’ who would commit thefts on his behalf. Jones hired the drivers and runners in an effort to maximize his personal profits, all of which were a product of criminal activity.”
Steele said the ring stole high-value merchandise, including designer purses, perfumes, and clothing, and then sold them through an illicit marketplace allegedly developed by Jones through social media.
In one example, Jones allegedly had four people raid the Givenchy store at the King of Prussia Mall on May 16, 2024. News reports afterward said $8,000 in merchandise was stolen, and a salesperson and a security guard were assaulted with pepper spray.
Jones used an Instagram account to find drivers and sell stolen goods. Shortly after Givenchy was hit, a person sent Jones a private message asking when more Chanel bags would be available.
“I just did Givenchy today,” Jones allegedly replied, then sent a video of purses, boots, and clothing.
The ring also made money from fraudulent returns involving Lululemon stores, Steele said. Merchandise would be stolen from Lululemon stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, and then returned in exchange for gift cards that were later allegedly sold by Jones for more cash.
“These schemes put store employees in harm’s way, exploit young people and drive up prices for everyday consumers,” Steele said in a statement.
Jones was charged with corrupt organizations, organized retail theft, robbery, corruption of minors, and related offenses.
A lawyer for Jones was not listed in court records for the new case. His court-appointed attorney for the 2023 case, Laurie R. Jubelirer, declined to comment on the new charges. She did say Jones had an active bench warrant for failing to appear in court for the 2023 case.
