Police Foil Alleged Organized Shoplifting Spree at Cocoplum Shopping Center
North Port, FL — What began as a routine evening of shopping at the bustling Cocoplum Shopping Center turned into a scene of flashing blue lights and swift arrests, as police disrupted what they describe as a coordinated retail theft operation.
Around 5:30 p.m. yesterday, officers were dispatched to the plaza after reports surfaced of four women suspected of shoplifting. The suspects, tied to a gray Chevrolet Malibu, were quickly tracked down in different corners of the shopping center, but it was their vehicle that revealed the scale of the crime.
Inside, investigators uncovered a trove of stolen merchandise — not only from Cocoplum stores but also from retailers beyond North Port’s jurisdiction. Surveillance footage painted an unmistakable picture: the women were allegedly working in tandem, employing tools designed to bypass security tags and anti-theft devices. The haul, police said, was worth several hundred dollars.
The suspects — identified as Tammie Denise Harrell, 48; Dale Wanella Connor, 52; Jessika Denise Bridges, 37; and an unnamed juvenile — now face a raft of charges, including criminal conspiracy, felony petit theft, and unlawful possession of anti-shoplifting device countermeasures.
North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison did not mince words:
“We take these types of crimes very seriously. Do not bring your organized crime to North Port.”
Authorities stressed that organized retail theft reverberates far beyond store shelves. Losses drive up costs for everyday shoppers and threaten community safety, officials said. The arrests serve as a stark warning: North Port is taking an uncompromising stance against retail crime.
The Cocoplum Shopping Center, usually alive with families and late-day shoppers, is quiet again today — but residents remain abuzz, reminded that crime can surface anywhere, and just as swiftly, be confronted.
