Two Texas women were arrested on felony theft charges after allegedly stealing more than $1,800 in cosmetics and other merchandise from a Minden CVS pharmacy on November 10.
Lyneisha Lashay Stokes, 31, of Houston, and Damyzha Skye Gibson, 25, of Brenham, were taken into custody after police responded to the CVS in the 600 block of Homer Road at approximately 6:27 PM.
According to a Minden Police Department report, officers were dispatched after store employees reported two women attempting to leave the scene following a theft.
Police located the women inside a vehicle matching the description provided by employees. Both initially denied stealing anything from the store.
While officers spoke with the suspects, the store manager reviewed surveillance footage with police. The video reportedly showed the women entering the store separately, each carrying a large purse.
According to the report, the women visited the cosmetics aisle and began placing merchandise into their purses. They then moved to the lotion aisle, where they allegedly concealed additional items before leaving the store.
When officers returned to the vehicle, the women reportedly admitted taking merchandise and surrendered some items from Stokes’ purse.
During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police discovered a large trash bag filled with cosmetics in the back seat. Store employees identified numerous products as CVS merchandise using store identification stickers.
Some of the recovered items reportedly bore stickers identifying a CVS location in Monroe.
The Minden store calculated the total value of the stolen merchandise at $1,848.79.
During questioning, Stokes allegedly admitted stealing from the store, telling officers, “I didn’t think y’all would show up this fast.”
When asked about the other merchandise, Stokes reportedly said, “I ain’t gone throw nobody else under the bus.” She also claimed to be a makeup artist and said that was where the cosmetics came from.
Gibson reportedly acknowledged placing stolen merchandise into the same bag as Stokes but denied knowing about the other items.
Police said Gibson initially identified herself as Makala Bradley. After arriving at the Minden Police Department, she admitted providing a false name and revealed her actual identity.
Both women were arrested on felony theft charges. Gibson faces an additional charge of resisting an officer by refusing to identify herself.
All subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.