Johnston Man Arrested for Shoplifting at Macy’s, Heroin Possession

WARWICK, RI — Warwick Police dispatched for a reported shoplifting at Macy’s in the Warwick Mall, 400 Bald Hill Road Aug. 29 at 8:15 p.m., waited outside until a Johnston man exited with $266.92 worth of stolen clothing and perfume, one gram of heroin, and an apology that he had to “steal some items.”

According to Officer Thomas Duncan’s report, another officer was already speaking with Mall security when he arrived, taking updates on the alleged shoplifter’s location in the store. After nearly an hour inside Macy’s the man left the store without purchasing any of the merchandise he had been placing in his backpack throughout his visit.

The officers detained the man, identified as Michael Desousa, 41, and told him why they were stopping him. Desousa told them he was sorry that he had “to steal some items this evening,” according to Duncan’s report.

Duncan arrested Desousa and searched him, finding a 1-gram bag of heroin as well as a backpack full of merchandise from Macy’s he hadn’t paid for. Among the items were two belts, a T-shirt, black shirt, white long-sleeve shirt, and a pair of white shorts, as well as a bottle of Gucci women’s perfume, worth a total of $266.92, according to the officer’s report.

Duncan transported Desousa to Warwick Police Headquarters at 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where he charged the man with shoplifting and possession of heroin, a felony. Desousa also had a warrant for this arrest out of Sixth District Court.