Police Department

Crime Spree

Sgt. Terry Preuninger, PIO

Monday, July 27, 2020 at 3:30 p.m.

Shoplifting suspect so prevalent that employees knew him by name arrested after an almost two month long theft spree.

Nicholas Michael (25) and Melodie Banks (26) were the suspects in multiple shoplifting incidents spanning nearly the past two months (starting June 3^rd, 2020) from multiple retail stores in the same retail chain around the Spokane area.  Employees off the retail chain had dealt with Michael so often that they knew him by name and had told him not to return to the stores.  An employee of the retail chain was able to attribute to Michael and Banks fifteen separate thefts at four retail locations using the store security cameras to match descriptions of the suspects and their vehicle.

After shoplifting various tools and other merchandise from the stores, Michael would then sell them online via various selling websites and social media sites.

On July 24^th, 2020 Spokane Police arrested Michael and Banks when they were spotted together in their vehicle.  Michael was booked into Spokane County Jail on counts of Organized Retail Theft and Theft with Intent to Resell.  Banks was booked on a count of Organized Retail Theft.

The total loss from the thefts was over $7,800.00. 

Report # 2020-20122189

Below is a list of incident report numbers associated with this case:

2020-10089135

2020-10089136

2020-10089128

2020-10089129

2020-10089130

2020-10089131

2020-10089133

2020-10096806

2020-10096807

2020-20099390

2020-2099392

2020-20099394

2020-20122187

2020-20122189

2020-20126890

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