Duo popped for stealing $1,600 in nail polish, selling for drugs

LAKE ORION, Mich. (WJBK) - A man and woman are being charged with stealing $1,600 in nail polish from a Lake Orion CVS.

Police in Lake Orion said they charged Derek Michael-Herbert Hill, 26, with felony retail fraud. His accomplice, his then-girlfriend, has also been charged but has not been located.

Police began an investigation at the CVS Pharmacy in the 200 block of S. Broadway on January 8 to a report of a theft of a large amount of nail polish. A manager told police an estimated 180 bottles of nail polish had been stolen in two weeks during two different thefts. The manager valued the value at $1,600.

According to the manager and surveillance video, the first crime happened on the day after Christmas last year. Around 3 pm, a woman walked into the store and placed 90 bottles of nail polish in her purse. Police said she left without paying.

Police said the other theft happened 12 days later. on January 7. At 11:40 am, the same woman and a white man walked into the store and once again put 90 bottles of nail polish into her purse. Once again, they left without paying.

Police said they posted the story on social media and on June 16 received a tip from a family member who recognized both suspects. That family member helped identify the suspect as Hill and a 30-year-old woman from Farmington Hills.

As it turns out, Hill was already locked up. He was in the Oakland County Jail on separate charges of larceny, illegal use of a credit card, and operating under the influence. He was interviewed about the CVS thefts and admitted it was him and his then-girlfriend.

Hill told police that, after stealing the nail polish, they sold it so they could buy drugs.

According to police, this crime is becoming more and more common by drug users.

The female suspect has been identified and charged - but has not been located.

Hill was arraigned on one felony charge of retail fraud and faces five years and a $10,000 fine. His bond was set at $10,000 and he was returned to the Oakland County Jail.

He'll be back in court on August 1.