Philadelphia police arrested members of a "diaper crew" who they say stole hundreds of diapers and other items from Family Dollar, Dollar General and Rite Aid stores throughout the city.
Daquan Johnson, 26, is charged with receiving stolen property and retail theft. Byron Jordan-Prince, 23, is charged with receiving stolen property, possession of an instrument of crime with intent, unlawful duplication and unauthorized use of motor/other vehicles. Lytrell Scott, 25, is charged with retail theft, conspiracy, evading arrest or detention on foot.
A fourth suspect, who police identified as 28-year-old Rahmir Johnson, turned himself in on Monday, July 29. Johnson is also charged with retail theft and other related offenses.
Get top local stories in Philly delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia's News Headlines newsletter.
The investigation began in late April of 2024 when police noticed a pattern of two to four people stealing from Family Dollar, Dollar General and Rite Aid stores in Philadelphia, primarily the Juniata and Burholme neighborhoods. During the incidents, the suspects were entering the stores while concealing laundry bags, trash bags or pillowcases in their pants, investigators said. They then stole "shelf loads" of diapers, batteries, candy, coffee and other goods, according to Philadelphia Police Inspector Raymond Evers.
"We called this the 'diaper crew,'" Evers said during a Friday morning press conference.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Inspector Evers said investigators utilized an app in which merchants throughout Philadelphia shared information with street officers, detectives and retailers.
"We have 1750 participants on this app," Inspector Evers said.
Once investigators noticed the pattern, they placed the information in the app.
"And within an hour, other stores were saying they just hit me two weeks ago," Evers said.
Police believe the "diaper crew" committed at least 25 retail thefts and two retail robberies and stole at least $14,000 in items since April. Investigators say the crew may have been reselling the stolen items to day cares or other stores.
On Sunday, July 14, police determined suspects matching the description of the "diaper crew" were stealing from a Dollar General on the 1200 block of East Erie Avenue, Evers said. Officers then responded to the store and arrested the suspects.
Police then arrested Johnson on Wednesday, July 24. Evers said Johnson is the leader of the "diaper crew" and is currently in custody on $250,000 bail.
"That's a serious, serious bail for retail theft," Evers said.
In February of this year, District Attorney Larry Krasner announced the creation of the city’s first Organized Retail & House Theft Task Force, which aims to aggressively crack down on fencing operations in which thieves buy or receive stolen goods and resell them.
“The city has given us great support now in order to develop this taskforce so that we could start targeting those people who are committing these crimes in a prolific way," Assistant District Attorney Kim Esack, the leader of the taskforce, said on Friday. "Which means they are not out stealing for themselves because they need to eat or feed their family or provide resources like that. They’re doing this as a business.”
Mayor Cherelle Parker also ordered Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel to reduce retail thefts and other quality of life crimes in the city as part of her executive order in which she declared a public safety emergency.
As of July 21, there were 12,459 reported incidents of retail theft in Philadelphia in 2024, up about 31 percent from the same time last year, according to data from Philadelphia police.
Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said Friday that police have made about 800 retail theft arrests so far in 2024, up about 81 percent from the same time last year. He credited the retail theft initiative -- which includes the real time communication app between businesses and police -- with helping with the uptick in arrests.
“We believe our strategy is moving in the right direction," Vanore said.
Last month, Philadelphia police announced the bust of a “large retail theft crew” that utilized children and teens to target businesses throughout the city.
