Retail stores caught selling stolen merchandise

Several convenience stores in Huntsville were raided for stolen merchandise Tuesday evening.

Abdulmalik-Haggagi

According to police, the stores were selling stolen items from large chain stores Publix and Kroger.

Communications Relations Officer Harry Hobbs said representatives from Publix and Kroger approached them to work as partners in a retail theft sting detail. Hobbs said they provided officers with retail items to sell to the suspected businesses.

“Our department has been working this retail theft sting for over three weeks in partnership with Publix and Kroger,” he said in a release. “ Yesterday, around 5 p.m., the detail concluded with the arrest of four suspects at several businesses.”

Those arrested were: Abdulmalik Haggagi, 26, at Texaco located at 4011 University Drive; Vinod J. Patel, 53, arrested at the Bama Grocery located at 2310 University Drive; Yousef Ali Algadi, 34, arrested at Citgo located at 2520 Oakwood Ave.; and Fisal Muosad Alajii, 52, arrested at 2605 University Drive.

Fisal-Alajii

Items the stores were selling ranged from baby formula, alcohol, cigarettes and more.

Sgt. Mark Roberts of the Huntsville Police Department said this was a “well executed” three-week operation.