Police nab shoplifters after brief chase

MADISON — A Florida trio was arrested on shoplifting charges in a Valentine’s Day heist at a makeup store off of Grandview Boulevard here.

Randolph Joseph, 25, Shira Thompson, 41, and Joseph Mitchell, 60, all of Hollywood, Fla., were arrested and charged last week with shoplifting and felony conspiracy, Madison Police Lt. Micah Taylor said.

Madison police received a call on Friday, Feb. 14, at about 1 p.m. reporting three individuals who had just shoplifted at the ULTA Beauty, 175 Grandview Boulevard, Taylor said.

Taylor said the caller reported they had left the store and gotten into a silver BMW and were headed southbound on Grandview Boulevard.

“A Madison patrol officer located the vehicle on Madison Avenue near the West Frontage Road where a traffic stop was conducted on the suspect vehicle,” Taylor said. “The silver BMW immediately pulled over and all three suspects were taken into custody without incident.”  

Officers on scene recovered all merchandise that was stolen from ULTA. Taylor said the merchandise was then documented and returned to the store. ULTA management then pressed charges on all three suspects.  

Taylor said the total value of the items stolen was valued at $2,276. 

He said officers were also able to recover several bags of stolen merchandise that could be possibly linked to potential shoplifting incidents in other municipalities in Mississippi or other states.  

“Investigators with the Madison Police Department are currently working to identify those jurisdictions and additional charges are possible through those agencies,” Taylor said.

Specifically, Taylor said they know Thompson is wanted in Georgia by Henry County authorities on felony shoplifting charges.

All three suspects remain in the Madison County Detention Center. All three suspects case will be presented to a Madison County grand jury by District Attorney John “Bubba” Bramlett.