New Jersey woman accused of robbing thousands from retailers in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania held on bail
HINGHAMA According to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz, a New Jersey woman entered a not guilty plea on Friday to accusations that she stole more than $10,000 worth of cosmetics from establishments in Hanover and Hingham.
In two different criminal instances, 20-year-old Ana Lucia Pacheco entered not guilty pleas in Hingham District Court late Friday. She was detained on $15,000 bond in both counts, totaling $30,000, and is charged with one count each of Organized Retail Crime, Conspiracy, and Larceny over $1,200. As part of his bond, Pacheco was also told to avoid all Sephora stores in Hanover and Hingham. The Commonwealth had asked for $250,000 in bond to be set in both of Pacheco’s criminal counts.
A loss prevention officer assigned to the national shop Sephora contacted Hanover Police in October 2024. The loss prevention officer informed the police that a female suspect who was caught on camera stealing from two Sephora stores in Hingham and Hanover on October 15 had been taken into custody for stealing from a Pennsylvania Sephora. According to the CCTV footage, Pacheco stole goods from both Massachusetts locations while cooperating with other suspects.
The investigators found that a total of $11,947 worth of merchandise was stolen, with $6,850 coming from the Hingham Sephora and $5,097 from the Hanover store.
To start the investigation, Hanover Police got in touch with the Massachusetts State Police Information Network. Detectives sought and acquired an arrest warrant for Pacheco after developing probable cause as a consequence of the investigation. Last Friday, she was brought back to the Commonwealth to face charges after being arrested by Massachusetts State Police in Pennsylvania.
Pacheco’s next court date is February 21 for a hearing on probable cause.
To combat store theft, DA Cruz established an Organized Retail Crime Task Force under the PCDAO in January 2024 to collaborate with retailers, Chambers of Commerce, police enforcement, and other stakeholders.
