Cops: Workers used trash bags to steal clothes

BY CHRISTINE ARMARIO
New York Newsday

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - Two Banana Republic employees were arraigned yesterday on grand larceny charges for allegedly stealing more than $50,000 in goods from the retailer at the Roosevelt Field Mall, sneaking the items out in trash bags, police said.

Kilma Robinson, 34, a stock manager, and Michael Gonzales, 23, a stock associate, were arrested Saturday evening at the Garden City store after an internal investigation determined they had been stealing men's and women's clothing and accessories and selling them on eBay since April.

Robinson, of Piscataway, N.J., and Gonzales, of Elmont, were each charged with second-degree grand larceny yesterday in First District Court, Hempstead. They were granted $1,000 and $2,500 bail, respectively.

"It's just a phenomenal amount of stuff," said Det. Sgt. Michael Williams of Nassau's Third Squad. He said the duo would place clothing, jewelry and accessories in trash bags and then take them out with the store's garbage. Later on, they would load some of the "trash" into their cars.

"However trash would be thrown out, they'd put it in the same packaging," Williams said. Also among their stash was a security-tag remover, which he speculates was used to remove the tags before reselling them online.

A Banana Republic manager at the store declined to comment on the case.

Though it was unclear how much they profited from their scheme, Williams said at least $50,000 in items had been recovered from their homes. No details were available on what items the pair had stolen from the store. Banana Republic stores sell higher-end casual and business wear.

Neither Robinson or Gonzales could be reached for comment.

If convicted, they could face a maximum punishment of 15 years' imprisonment.