“Diaper Crew” is disbanded as Philadelphia police and prosecutors crack down on shoplifting

A shoplifting ring that Philadelphia police had dubbed the “Diaper Crew” has disappeared from the streets, department officials announced Friday, as law enforcement launched a new campaign to curb organized shoplifting across the city.

Police arrested three men in mid-July who stole at least $15,000 worth of goods from dollar and convenience stores in recent months, focusing on the Burholme and Juniata neighborhoods, authorities said during a news conference.

According to police, the men are Daquan Johnson, 26, Bryon Gordon Price, 23, and Lytrell Scott, 25. A fourth man, whose identity police did not release, is expected to turn himself in on Monday.

According to Philadelphia Police Inspector Raymond Evers, the perpetrators stole “shelves full” of diapers from stores such as Dollar General, Rite Aid and Family Dollar, as well as batteries and coffee.

Evers said investigators are convinced the crew members stole the goods to resell them on the black market – a practice known as receiving stolen goods.

In total, members of the Diaper Crew have been linked to 25 shoplifting incidents and two store robberies, according to Evers. Authorities became aware of their theft pattern in April; two to four people would enter a store, hide large laundry bags or pillowcases, fill the bags with goods and flee.

According to authorities, Johnson was the leader of the gang.

The arrests come at a time when the city’s law enforcement agencies have overhauled their approach to prosecuting shoplifting. According to Philadelphia police, the number of arrests for shoplifting is up 81% this year compared to the same period last year.

“If you’re a habitual offender, you’re going to have to pay a lot of bail,” Evers said. “If you use your car, we’ll take your car away, we’ll take your phones away. You’re going to lose a lot.”

According to crime data, more people have been arrested and charged with shoplifting this year than in any year since 2017, and the number of arrests in the first six months of 2024 has surpassed the total for 2021 and 2022 combined.

Arrests began to pick up again earlier this year after District Attorney Larry Krasner quietly shelved a controversial policy that required that in cases where the value of stolen goods was less than $500, the offender be given a misdemeanor similar to a traffic ticket.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Police Department also changed course this summer and updated its diversion program so that people charged with shoplifting are no longer eligible to participate.