‘Diaper Crew’ steals diapers and other items from Philadelphia stores – NBC10 Philadelphia

Philadelphia police have arrested members of a “diaper crew” who allegedly stole hundreds of diapers and other items from Family Dollar, Dollar General and Rite Aid stores across the city.

Daquan Johnson, 26, is charged with receiving stolen goods and shoplifting. Byron Jordan-Prince, 23, is charged with receiving stolen goods, possession of a weapon with intent, unauthorized reproduction, and unauthorized use of motor vehicles/other vehicles. Lytrell Scott, 25, is charged with shoplifting, conspiracy, and fleeing arrest or detention on foot.

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Police also said they are in contact with the attorney of a fourth suspect in the thefts, who is expected to turn himself in on Monday, July 29.

The investigation began in late April 2024, when police noticed two to four people stealing from Family Dollar, Dollar General and Rite Aid stores in Philadelphia, primarily in the Juniata and Burholme neighborhoods. During the incidents, the suspects entered the stores while hiding laundry bags, garbage 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 it the ‘diaper crew,'” Evers said during a press conference Friday morning.

Inspector Evers said investigators used an app that allows merchants across Philadelphia to share information with patrol officers, detectives and retailers.

“We have 1,750 participants in this app,” said Inspector Evers.

When investigators noticed the pattern, they added the information to the app.

“And within an hour, other stores were saying they had only met me two weeks ago,” Evers said.

Police believe the “diaper gang” has committed at least 25 shoplifting incidents and two store robberies since April, stealing at least $14,000 worth of items. Investigators believe the gang may have resold the stolen items to daycare centers or other businesses.

On Sunday, July 14, police found that suspects matching the description of the “diaper crew” had robbed a Dollar General in the 1200 block of East Erie Avenue, Evers said. Officers then rushed to the store and arrested the suspects.

On Wednesday, July 24, police arrested Johnson. Evers said Johnson is the leader of the “diaper crew” and is currently being held on $250,000 bail.

“That’s a very, very high bail for shoplifting,” Evers said.

In February of this year, District Attorney Larry Krasner announced the creation of the city’s first Task Force on Organized Retail and Residential Theft. Its goal is to aggressively crack down on receiving stolen goods, in which thieves buy or receive stolen goods and resell them.

“The city has now given us great support to set up this task force so that we can begin to target those who are committing these crimes on a large scale,” Assistant District Attorney Kim Esack, the head of the task force, said Friday. “That is, they are not stealing for themselves because they need to eat or feed their family or obtain resources like that. They are doing this as a business.”

Mayor Cherelle Parker also called on Philadelphia Police Chief Kevin Bethel to reduce shoplifting and other crimes that affect the city’s quality of life as part of her executive order declaring a public safety emergency.

As of July 21, 2024, there were 12,459 reported cases of shoplifting in Philadelphia, about 31 percent more than the same period last year, according to Philadelphia police data.

Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said on Friday that police have made about 800 shoplifting arrests so far in 2024, about 81 percent more than in the same period last year. He attributed the increase in arrests to the anti-shoplifting initiative, which includes a real-time communication app between businesses and police.

“We believe our strategy is moving in the right direction,” Vanore said.

Last month, Philadelphia police announced the arrest of a “major shoplifting gang” that had used children and teens to target stores across the city.