Maryland women charged with shoplifting felonies at Tanger Outlets

Four Maryland women face felony charges in connection with shoplifting March 5 from Tanger Outlets.

Delaware State Police were patrolling the east side parking lot of Tanger Outlets Bayside when they spotted a black Infiniti sedan with paper covering its rear license plate, said Master Cpl. Heather Pepper of the Delaware State Police.

The car was backing into a parking spot when police approached it, Pepper said, and a woman quickly exited the car and removed the license plate covering.

Police conducted a criminal investigation, Pepper said, and determined that the four occupants of the car were intending to shoplift at the outlets. Police found shoplifting tools on the women, Pepper said, and numerous empty shopping bags from various stores were located inside the car. The four women were taken into custody without incident and transported to Delaware State Police Troop 7.

The driver, Antonia Risby, 26, of Baltimore, Md., was linked to three other shoplifting incidents at the Gap Outlet, Victoria’s Secret, and Under Armour, Pepper said. The total amount of merchandise stolen was $11,357, she said. Passenger Adaja Cozart, 24, of Middle River, Md., was linked to a shoplifting incident at Victoria’s Secret, Pepper said.

The other passengers in the car were Jasmin Burgess, 21, of Gwynn Oak, Md., and Cemone Massenberg, 25, of Baltimore, Md. All women were arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3.

Risby and Cozart were charged with various counts of felony shoplifting over $1,500, second-degree conspiracy, felony possession of shoplifting tools, felony theft - organized retail crime over $1,500, and attempted shoplifting under $1,500. Both women were committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in default of secured bond, Risby at $20,000 and Cozart at $12,000.

Burgess and Massenberg were charged with felony possession of shoplifting tools, second-degree conspiracy, felony theft - organized retail crime over $1,500, and attempted theft under $1,500. They were both committed to Baylor institution in default of $8,000 secured bond.