MARLBOROUGH – A report of shoplifting at the Solomon Pond Mall led to the arrest of a man and woman on a variety of charges, including the attempted distribution of counterfeit merchandise.
According to Marlborough Police Department reports, shortly after 8 p.m. on Oct. 31, police were called to the mall on a report of a verbal argument and “some sort of assault.”
The suspects – later identified as Worcester residents – were leaving the mall in a red 2016 Honda Pilot. Police pulled them over near the Best Buy on Donald J. Lynch Boulevard.
Police noticed the suspect vehicle’s rear plate had been bent upward to make it harder to read.
After detaining the suspects, police headed to Macy’s where the alleged assault had occurred. Mall security reported that Pereira-Delugo had taken a bottle of perfume and placed it in her bag. The suspects left the store and headed into the mall. Mall security followed them and asked for the perfume. The suspects said they didn’t have the perfume; security told them they were banned from the property and needed to leave.
When a mall security officer noticed that the suspects were still on mall property, they were told again to leave. According to the report, Costa Pinheiro pushed the security officer, who began to strike back at the suspect with a water bottle. Pereira-Delugo also pushed the security officer, who pushed back.
Both suspects were placed under arrest and taken to the station.
While running the suspect vehicle’s license plate, police discovered that Costa Pinheiro’s license had been suspended.
During booking, police discovered more than $4,100 in Pereira-Delugo’s purse, along with a bottle of Victoria Secret’s perfume that appeared to be the one stolen from Macy’s, police said.
Police noticed the suspects’ vehicle was filled with merchandise. The vehicle was towed off mall property.
During an inventory, police said they noticed hundreds of items of counterfeit merchandise. “Based on the sheer quantity of items and the large amount of cash found, it became clear that the counterfeit items were more than likely being redistributed,” according to the report.
Police seized nearly 500 items, including purses and bags, sunglasses, belts, shoes, earrings, watches, necklaces, wallets, body jewelry and phone cases. They also seized what appeared to be a receipt that Pereira-Delugo said was for items she had purchased in New York.
She also wanted it on the record that the security officer punched her in the face. Officers could not see any marks on her face, and the officer denied the allegation.
Pereira-Delugo was charged with shoplifting by concealing merchandise; assault and battery; possession with intent to distribute items with counterfeit markings; and conspiracy.
Costa Pinheiro faces the same charges as Pereira-Delugo, along with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.
Both were arraigned in Marlborough District Court and released on personal recognizance. Under the conditions of release, they are to have no contact with the victim, and to stay away from the victim and from Solomon Pond Mall.
Pretrial hearings for the two suspects are scheduled for Dec. 4.
