By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the Sports Authority store at Assembly Square Marketplace last Thursday on reports that a suspected shoplifter was being watched by store Loss Prevention personnel.

Upon arrival, the officers were informed that a group of three women were behaving in a manner consistent with shoplifting activity. Two of the women reportedly left the store in a hurry as the officers arrived, while the third, identified as Erin Eckert, of Medford, remained inside.

The store employees told the officers that Eckert was observed removing clothes from hangers, entering the fitting room with multiple items without notifying employees, and that she may have concealed merchandise in her purse, according to reports.

Store surveillance video was reviewed by the employees and the officers were told that one of the women had handed an piece of store merchandise to Eckert to put inside her purse, police said.

The two women who left the store were questioned by police outside in the parking lot, and the store manager came out to formally request a no trespassing order against them.

Inside the store, Eckert was confronted by police and eventually admitted that she had put some merchandise into her purse. A search of the bag reportedly yielded two shirts, a jacket, and a pair of pants all with Sports Authority tags. The value of the merchandise amounted to $260, according to reports.

Eckert reportedly began making a fuss and behaving erratically. She was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with larceny over $250. A number of warrant charges were also active in her name.