Accused Serial Shoplifter Held on $100K Cash Bail

The Essex County District Attorney's office announced Tuesday afternoon that a Lawrence woman charged with going on a shoplifting spree at the Northshore Mall has been arraigned and is now being held on $100,000 cash bail.

Jennifer Santos, 27, of Lawrence, is also a suspect in similar shoplifting thefts at several other malls in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In total, authorities believe she stole more than $100,000 in merchandise.

The Salem News reports prosecutors believe Santos also hit the Burlington Mall, Chestnut Hill Mall, Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough, Holyoke Mall, Legacy Place in Foxborough, the Mall at Rockingham Park in Salem, N.H., Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua, N.H., the Mall of New Hampshire in Manchester, N.H., the Fox Run Mall in Newington, N.H. and Steeplegate Mall in Concord, N.H.

Santos allegedly stole from other mall stores in addition to Victoria's Secret and Sephora, such as Abercrombie & Fitch. Authorities believe she is part of a professional shoplifting ring, reports the Salem News, but that she also steals to support a drug habit.

Santos' arraignment was initially delayed from Monday, but then conducted on Tuesday at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, where she was admitted over the weekend as a patient.

She is charged with nine counts of larceny over $250 and three counts of trespassing for allegedly stealing merchandise from Victoria's Secret and the Sephora stores at the Peabody mall.

The DA's office said Judge Sabita Singh ordered the high bail and should Santos post bail, she will be confined to her home with a GPS bracelet and must stay away from all shopping malls.

Santos is due to appear in court Oct. 15 for a pre-trial hearing.