Six people were charged in Ramsey County this week in connection to four Black Friday “mass thefts.”
One of the criminals charged described this behavior as a “lifestyle” and even claimed to be operating a “certified booster” business. Booster is slang for someone who steals for a living.
“Run Outs By Ralai offer the best boosting service in Minnesota, we are planning to expand this year to offer shipping services to other states as well but for now it’s local and we are getting everything y’all need (clothes, shoes, food, housing supplies, and many more). No store is too big no store is too small Run Outs By Ralai will dust them all,” a person named Raymone Wright wrote on Facebook in early November, according to a screenshot obtained by Crime Watch Minneapolis. Wright also goes by the name of Ra’Lasia.
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Six people have been charged in the Maplewood Best Buy smash/grab theft/robbery in November, including a person named Raymone Wright.In early November, a person named Raymone Wright (aka Ra'lasia Wright), posted this on their Facebook page (pic 1).
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. pic.twitter.com/bW4Fpj3dWl— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) January 29, 2022
In another post, Wright said he was hosting a “hiring event” because he needed a few “helping hands” for the Christmas season. These accomplices could earn up to $2,000 a day depending on “how experienced” they were, Wright said.
Wright allegedly flaunted his stolen TVs and laptops during a Facebook livestream. Some of the products were apparently resold online.
Wright is now charged with one count of felony theft. So are Nathaniel Spears, Shaimee Robinson-Love, Na’Touri Ross and two unnamed 17-year-old juveniles.
The band of thieves stole $26,000 worth of merchandise from Best Buy stores in Maplewood, Burnsville, and Blaine and a Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Richfield. Three of the attacks were carried out within the span of about three hours on Black Friday.
Initial reports indicated that upwards of 20 people were involved in some of the thefts and prosecutors believe more people could be charged in the future.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
