Law enforcement officials are investigating a resale shop in University Place after the seizure of a large volume of Lululemon merchandise, raising broader questions about retail theft and resale channels in Washington and beyond.
According to court records and media reports, authorities executed a search warrant in January at a business operating on Bridgeport Way West. Investigators recovered approximately 1,770 Lululemon items. Of those, more than 400 were confirmed as stolen, while over 1,000 could not be matched to sales records through radio frequency identification data. Prosecutors allege the shop owner knowingly or recklessly purchased or received stolen goods.
The owner of the business, identified in charging documents as Marra Ferrlan Carissimo, has been charged with three counts of trafficking in stolen property in the first degree. An arraignment is scheduled in Pierce County Superior Court. Financial records cited by prosecutors show roughly $920,000.00 in payments received through Venmo over a ten-month period, largely tied to Lululemon sales made online and in person. Lululemon has reported recovering more than $100,000.00 in confirmed stolen merchandise and requested prosecution.
The investigation began after Lululemon’s asset protection team alerted local police to a pattern of merchandise appearing in resale channels without corresponding sales records. Corporate loss prevention staff and federal investigators are now reviewing the case.
Retailers across the region have reported an increase in theft activity tied to resale and online marketplaces. Cases like this underscore the challenges retailers face in tracking stolen goods and the importance of coordination among businesses, law enforcement, and prosecutors. WR continues to monitor developments related to retail theft and efforts to address its impact on communities and the retail industry.
