6 charged in post-Thanksgiving grab-and-run thefts from Best Buy stores in Twin Cities

Deanna Weniger, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
·3 min read

Jan. 29—A tipster and a cheeky Facebook post led Twin Cities authorities to the ringleader and five others accused of mass grab-and-run thefts from Best Buy stores on the day after Thanksgiving.

The Ramsey County attorney's office on Friday charged Raymone Wright, 22; Nathaniel Spears, 27; Shaimee Robinson-Love, 18; Na-Touri Ross, 19; and two 17-year-olds each with one count of felony theft. Investigators estimate the total value stolen from the three Best Buy stores was $26,138.

Multiple other people are suspected in taking part in the thefts, but authorities were not able to clearly identify them for prosecution consideration, the attorney's office said in a statement.

"This brazen act by an organized group shocked those who witnessed it first-hand as well as the retail community and law-abiding shoppers who were out making purchases ahead of the busy holiday season," said Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. "Bringing these individuals to justice sends a message that this type of activity will not be tolerated. Our thanks go out to our partners in law enforcement for their hard work in unraveling this complex investigation."

Spears will make his next appearance on Feb. 15 via Zoom. A warrant has been issued for the three remaining adults. The 17-year-olds were petitioned via summons.

According to the criminal complaint, around 6 p.m. Nov. 26, the group went to the Best Buy at 1795 E. County Road D in Maplewood. They grabbed TVs, tablets, hoverboards and other electronic devices valuing $7,356 and left the store without paying for them.

The same group hit a Best Buy in Burnsville around 5 p.m. and then went on to the Best Buy in Blaine at 8 p.m. The total value of the items stolen from the three stores was $26,138. The group also struck a Dick's Sporting Goods store in Richfield.

Police were able to identify the suspects from surveillance video compared with Facebook posts by the same individuals.

An anonymous tipster told police that Wright, of Minneapolis, was involved and that Wright, listed as male in court documents, said he identified as a transgender woman who went by the name of Ra'Lasia Wright.

Wright was associated with a Facebook page named "Run Outs by Ralai" that bragged of organized retail thefts.

The page boasted, "This is a lifestyle and I'm proud to say I'm the first certified booster with a LLC. 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 TO SMALL RUN OUTS BY RALAI WILL DUST THEM ALL. — Ra'Lasia"

The tipster said Wright had been on Facebook Live showing merchandise stolen from the stores, charges say.

When officers went to Wright's home, they found a Ford Edge with Florida license plates that was involved in the thefts. Officers had it towed. A search of the vehicle revealed an anti-theft device used by Best Buy stores.

When the car was being placed on the tow truck, Wright came outside and asked why it was being towed. Wright admitted to being at the stores but denied stealing anything. Wright refused to identify the others involved, according to the complaint.

Wright has a prior felony conviction for third-degree assault in Hennepin County in 2020 in which he hit another man with a tire iron, causing a gash that had to be closed with surgical staples, according to the criminal complaint. Wright was on supervised probation when he was charged with the 2021 thefts.

Spears had pending charges of a felon in possession of a firearm at the time he was charged with the thefts. He has a 2019 felony conviction for third-degree assault in which he knocked one woman unconscious and dislocated the shoulder of another. He was given probation, according to court documents.