Two people were arrested Sunday at the Costco warehouse at 1220 Tamarack Ave in South Windsor after police say they attempted purchases using Costco fraudulent credit cards at a self-checkout lane.
According to the South Windsor Police Department, officers were called about an active shoplifting incident at about 3 p.m. and took two people into custody at the scene. The department said staff had warned of similar behavior by the same suspects at a nearby Costco in Enfield before the South Windsor incident.
What happened at the South Windsor Costco (Costco fraudulent credit cards)
South Windsor police say employees reported two adults acting suspiciously while attempting to leave the store and attempting transactions at self-checkout with payment cards the staff believed were fraudulent.
Officers who responded to the Costco at 1220 Tamarack Ave located the pair inside the store and detained them. The police department said investigators described the case as an alleged scheme to use stolen or otherwise fraudulent payment cards to obtain merchandise.
These descriptions come from a department statement summarized for the public; the allegations remain unproven and the subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Arrests, charges and warrants
Police identified the suspects as 35-year-old Brittany A. Howard of the Bronx, N.Y., and 34-year-old Kasheem M. Williams of Brooklyn, N.Y. The South Windsor Police Department reported both face multiple state charges tied to the South Windsor incident.
In addition, officers said they confirmed active out-of-state warrants for each person after their arrest. Police reported Williams has an extraditable warrant from Suffolk County, N.Y., on allegations that include burglary, strangulation and assault. Howard reportedly has an extraditable warrant from Hudson County, N.J., related to alleged credit card theft. Those descriptions are drawn from the police account and initial media reporting.
Local prosecutors in Connecticut have also filed new counts related to the South Windsor incident, including payment card theft, larceny, identity theft and conspiracy, according to the police summary. All counts are allegations at this stage and will be reviewed by the court and prosecutors.
Evidence and prior incidents
As part of the ongoing investigation, officers searched a vehicle associated with the suspects and said they located 28 financial documents that police described as stolen and bearing different names. The department also reported recovering merchandise believed to have been taken from the Enfield Costco location, which investigators said may be connected to an earlier attempt.
Police cautioned that the characterization of the documents, the identities tied to them, and the origin of recovered goods are part of an active probe and have not been proven in court. Investigators continue to inventory evidence and coordinate with other jurisdictions where warrants were reported.
Why it matters: retail fraud and self-checkout risks
Law enforcement and retailers have said schemes that combine stolen or counterfeit payment data with self-checkout systems can allow suspects to try rapid transactions without direct staff handling every purchase. That combination can increase the risk of fraudulent purchases and quick removal of high-value items.
Retail loss-prevention teams typically rely on transaction monitoring, employee awareness and cooperation with police to detect and stop suspicious activity. Payment card theft and identity fraud can have impacts beyond lost merchandise, including financial losses for victims and added costs for retailers and customers.
What comes next: bonds, court dates and possible extraditions
Police said both suspects were being held on $250,000 surety bonds and were scheduled to appear in Manchester Superior Court Monday morning. The reported surety amount means a bondsman or other surety would typically pledge the required amount for release if conditions are met.
Because officers reported active extraditable warrants from other jurisdictions, either suspect could be transferred to those jurisdictions if local authorities and the agencies holding the warrants pursue extradition. Extradition is handled through legal and administrative steps and can take days to weeks depending on coordination between agencies.
Local prosecutors will decide whether to pursue the newly filed Connecticut charges, and courts will set further hearings as the case proceeds. Officials often limit public commentary while multi-jurisdictional investigations and extradition considerations are ongoing.
This account is based on the South Windsor Police Department’s summary of events and reporting by Fox News. The South Windsor Police Department released an initial statement to the public and investigators continue to develop the case. All allegations remain subject to prosecution and adjudication.
Sources: South Windsor Police Department statement and Fox News.
