Six charged in suitcase theft ring at Maryland Kohl’s, illegal handgun found in raid
FOREST HILL, MD — A months-long investigation by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office has led to charges against six people in connection with a series of retail thefts at a Kohl’s department store, where suspects repeatedly used suitcases to haul away thousands of dollars in merchandise — and one suspect was later found in possession of an unserialized handgun.
The first incident occurred on October 30, when suspects filled a suitcase with Nike sneakers and left it near the front of the store on Osborne Parkway. A third person entered, retrieved the suitcase, and walked out without paying. The merchandise was valued at more than $1,000. Investigators identified the suspects as Hayward T. Henderson Jr., 42; Susan Frazier, 45; and Eric C. Briggs Sr., 49, all of Edgewood.
A similar theft took place on November 4. This time, Briggs and an unidentified woman loaded a suitcase with clothing, jewelry, and more, then left it for another suspect — identified as Christopher C. Ewing, 34, of Aberdeen — who walked out with the goods, totaling over $2,000.
The pattern continued on November 10. Deputies responded to a third theft involving over $1,500 in stolen merchandise. Suspects from the earlier incidents — Henderson, Frazier, and Briggs — were again involved, along with Frazier’s husband, Phillip V. Frazier Sr., 45, and another unidentified woman.
Detectives executed a search warrant at the Frazier residence on December 4. Inside, they found stolen merchandise and an unserialized firearm belonging to Phillip V. Frazier Jr., 23, of Edgewood.
The suspects face a variety of charges:
- Hayward T. Henderson Jr.: Multiple theft counts, organized retail theft, and theft scheme — summons issued
- Susan Frazier: Multiple theft counts, organized retail theft, and theft scheme — arrested and released on $2,500 unsecured bond
- Phillip Frazier Sr.: Theft charges — summons issued
- Eric C. Briggs Sr.: Multiple theft counts, organized retail theft, and theft scheme — warrant issued
- Christopher C. Ewing: Multiple theft charges — warrant issued
- Phillip V. Frazier Jr.: Possession of an unserialized handgun — summons issued
The investigation is ongoing.
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Key Points
- Harford County detectives charged six people in suitcase-style retail thefts at Kohl’s
- Over $4,500 in stolen merchandise was taken across three incidents
- A raid recovered stolen goods and an illegal firearm from a suspect’s home
