Perfume Pirate Charged in String of Thefts, Including One in Richfield

A White Bear Lake woman has been charged with felony theft of over $5,000 after police say she is stole numerous bottles of fragrance from four different stores, including Ulta Beauty in Richfield.

Melissa Lynn Koenig, 36, was arrested at JC Penny in Minnetonka on April 23, which is another location of an alleged theft.

According to the criminal complaint, Richfield police officers responded to a theft report at Ulta Beauty on March 11. An employee reported that a 5-foot, white female with strawberry blonde hair and glasses, entered the store on both March 8 and March 9. The employee said the female grabbed some items and left the store without attempting to pay for any items on March 8. The employee said the suspect returned on March 9 and left the store without making any purchases.

Surveillance video from the store showed the female suspect selecting and concealing at least 12 fragrance bottles, valued at $70 each, in her bag and then exiting the store without paying, the complaint said.

On or near the date of Koenig's arrest in Minnetonka, the Richfield Ulta employee identified her in a six-person line up.

According to the complaint, Koenig is also alleged to have carried out similar thefts at the Ulta stores in Maple Grove and Minnetonka, as well as JC Penny in Minnetonka. After being arrested, Koenig admitted to stealing from all four stores in a post-Miranda statement.

If convicted, Koenig faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.

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