4 men in alleged Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut retail theft ring arrested after robbery of 80-year-old

Four men were arrested for an Organized Retail Theft following an investigation by Hingham and Weymouth Police on Friday in a Hingham shopping center parking lot.

According to Hingham Police, on July 19th, Hingham Detectives were contacted by Weymouth Police Detectives who had observed suspicious activity by the four men inside an SUV at a shopping center in Weymouth and followed the SUV into the Derby Street Shops in Hingham. Detectives continued to observe the suspicious activity of the men as they walked in and out of the Apple Store.

Officers learned the temporary license plate was not listed to the SUV and pulled it over as it was leaving a parking lot. A bilingual Weymouth Officer arrived to help translate. Officers saw one passenger attempt to hide a credit card under his seat. Police contacted the owner of the card, an 80 year old woman, who said her wallet had just been stolen from her purse while she was shopping in Weymouth.

Inside the SUV police found the woman’s stolen wallet, 3 iPhones purchased separately with the stolen card from the Hingham Apple store, and bags of items purchased with credit cards from stores in Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Arrested were 50-year-old Wilmer Vasquez Labato of Waltham, 30-year-old Miguel Angel Gomez Avina of Lexington, 32-year-old Jesse Marlo Sanchez Asmat of Lexington, and 46-year-old Misael Donato Rivera of Boston.

All were charged with Organized Retail Crime, Receiving Stolen Property Over $1200, Receiving Stolen Property Under $1200, and Conspiracy. The driver, Wilmer Vasquez Labato, was also charged with Unlicensed Operation, Attaching Plates, Uninsured Vehicle, and Unregistered Vehicle.

All four were booked at the Hingham Police station and released on bail for their arraignment at Hingham District Court.

This incident remains under investigation.