‘Professional booster’ shoplifted from same UES store 10 times: NYPD
A girl who dubbed herself a “skilled booster” after she was nabbed for shoplifting earlier this yr has been arrested once more — for allegedly robbing the identical Manhattan drug retailer 10 occasions, police stated.
Michelle Mckelley, 42, now has 108 arrests below her belt following her newest bust Wednesday, when she was charged with 10 separate petty larcenies from the Ceremony Assist at Second Avenue and East 96th Avenue, cops and a police supply stated.
“She has 108 arrests!” the Manhattan cop exclaimed. “What are they ready for 200 arrests to carry her? When does it cease? It’s making a mockery of the system.”
Mckelley’s alleged spree on the Ceremony Assist began April 21, and resulted within the theft of dozens of physique washes, hair merchandise, soaps, sweet and different objects value a complete of $1,375, police stated.
On April 29, she allegedly stole “10 summer season coolers” value $350, based on police. It wasn’t clear how she managed to take the big coolers from the shop with out detection, cops stated.
On Might 17, she allegedly used a suitcase to steal denim leggings, a number of bottles of physique wash, numerous air fresheners and different merchandise value $210.
Mckelley was awaiting arraignment in Manhattan Felony Courtroom Thursday.
Her arrest for the Ceremony Assist spree got here three days after she was nabbed for stealing from a Goal on Columbus Avenue and one centesimal Avenue on Sunday.
On that go to, she is accused of stealing 4 containers of Tide Pods, two Solar Squad backpacks, one bundle of Chips Ahoy, 4 Febreze air fresheners and 6 Glade air fresheners for a complete worth of $139, based on police.
A Manhattan choose freed her on supervised launch.
Again in February, she was nabbed for allegedly stealing from a Goal on Third Avenue close to East seventieth Avenue — in what was believed to be her 96th arrest.
After that bust, Mckelley allegedly instructed cops, “I haven’t acquired caught in a very long time,” prosecutors stated.
“I’m an expert booster. Y’all are stopping my hustle,” the serial shoplifter allegedly instructed officers, based on prosecutors.
Talking to The Publish after her arraignment — the place she was launched — Mckelley stated, “I don’t name it stealing, I name it skilled boosting.”
Most of her arrests have been for petit larceny, a misdemeanor that’s not eligible for financial bail below state legislation.
“You might have individuals who hold stealing objects from these shops,” the Manhattan cop stated. “It’s affecting city dwelling. Shops are transferring and other people should journey to different areas to get what they want. And no person’s doing something about it.”
The choose in Mckelley’s Febrary case agreed to free her below the supervision of the Middle for Various Sentencing and Employment Companies (CASES), whereas warning her to not get arrested once more.
Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD Detective Sergeant and adjunct professor at John Jay School of Felony Justice, stated this system clearly didn’t work for Mckelley.
“The town and activists have been attempting to push individuals into options to jail however apparently that’s no deterrence for Michelle,” Giacalone stated.
“At this level, they should maintain her on bail and she or he must do a while. She’s a strolling crime wave.”
