Rochester Shoplifting Arrest Allegedly Tied to Midwest Scam

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Twin Cities woman is facing a felony theft charge in Olmsted County in connection with an alleged scheme involving Target Stores throughout the Midwest.

A criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court against 25-year-old Semaj Ronae Rankin of Minneapolis alleges that she was involved in the theft of approximately $650 from the Target Store in northwest Rochester in late June of last year. The court document says a surveillance video recording at the store shows Rankin placing several items in a shopping cart from various departments before going to the guest services counter and requesting to return the merchandise in her shopping cart.

After receiving merchandise returned cards, Rankin allegedly went to the electronics department at the Target Store and purchased several Apple products using the refunds from the "returned merchandise." The complaint does not include details concerning the allegations pertaining to a region-wide theft scheme.

Rankin is scheduled to make her first court appearance on the charges early next month.

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