SHELBY TWP. (WWJ) -- Shelby Township Police say Flock cameras helped them catch a man and woman in the country illegally who were wanted for stealing from Ulta Beauty stores in several states.
According to investigators, the suspects were reported to authorities on Sept.1 after leaving an Ulta store in Shelby Township without paying for $400 worth of merchandise.
Police were then able to locate Paula Rodriguez and Richard Monlina, who had been living in Detroit, with the help of Flock cameras.
Investigators were later able to recover $27,000 stolen items allegedly linked to the couple.
Both suspects were arraigned in 41-A District Court on a charge of Organized Retail Crime and given a bond of $50,000 each.
Police noted that Monlina is also wanted for thefts in Alabama.
According to Shelide, Rodriguez and Richard Monlina were determined to be in the country illegally. ICE has issued detainers.
Flock cameras are AI-powered license plate readers used by law enforcement and private neighborhoods to automatically capture, analyze, and alert authorities to passing vehicles' license plates and physical characteristics in real time. Critics argue this creates a warrantless mass-surveillance network that tracks everyday movements and risks infringing on privacy.
“Retail fraud is not a victimless crime, and Shelby Township will simply not accept criminals coming into our community and stealing from our businesses," Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide said, in a statement. "FLOCK has become an important investigative tool for our detectives, allowing us to identify patterns and connect suspects to crimes. This case was a great example of how hard and diligent our detectives work to solve crimes. Shelby Township will continue to use every resource available to help protect our businesses and community. Shelby Township is our top priority!”
Police say both are in the U.S. illegally
Police say both are in the U.S. illegally
