BOSTON— A wave of theft swept through the Back Bay area as Boston Police nabbed four alleged shoplifters in a series of bold crimes that racked up over $2,200 in stolen merchandise. The unfolding drama paints a troubling picture of retail theft in this upscale neighborhood, prompting officials to re-evaluate security measures.

According to police reports, the chaos began around 3:58 PM on Friday when officers received word that two female suspects had made off with items from the Alo store at 776 Boylston Street. They were caught red-handed while attempting to steal from a Lululemon store. Police recovered approximately $516 worth of stolen goods. A 15-year-old female juvenile was arrested and is expected to face charges of shoplifting by asportation in Boston Municipal Court.

The crime spree escalated shortly after. At about 5:15 PM, officers were alerted that another duo of known shoplifters was back at it, this time concealing over $1,400 worth of merchandise in their clothing. Kayla Harris, 31, of Boston, and Demetrius Little, 31, of Roxbury, were arrested and charged with larceny over $1,200 and conspiracy.

As if that wasn’t enough, just an hour later at 6:00 PM, a group attempted to make another getaway, but a 14-year-old male juvenile was caught in a dramatic struggle with officers while resisting arrest. He allegedly stole around $296 worth of merchandise, leading to additional charges of shoplifting and resisting arrest as he was taken into custody.

With the total stolen goods surpassing $2,200, the series of incidents raises serious concerns about retail security in the Back Bay. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation as they seek solutions to combat this worrying trend that threatens local businesses and the safety of shoppers.