Utica Man Charged In Theft Of $1,600 Worth Of Nail Polish From CVS

LAKE ORION (WWJ) - A 26-year-old man has been charged in the theft of 180 or more bottles of nail polish from an Oakland County CVS Pharmacy early this year.

According to Lake Orion police, Derek Mihael-Herbert Hill of Utica was turned in by a relative who recognized he and his female accomplice from security photos shared on social media.

Police said Hill was found at the Oakland County Jail where he was lodge on unrelated charges. He allegedly admitted to detectives that he his then-girlfriend had pilfered the polish, valued at around $1,600, from the CVS on South Broadway in Lake Orion and then sold it to buy drugs.

Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh said the tipster in this case was motivated by worry for her loved one.

"It is a family member who is concerned because they don't want them going down a path continuing an addiction that could end up with them losing their life," Narsh told WWJ's Sandra McNeill. "And somethings bringing this forward to law enforcement at least is a start to moving them away from the addiction."

Hill was arraigned Friday in 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills on a charge of first-degree felony retail fraud, second offence — which could land him behind bars for five years. He was remanded back to jail on a $10,000 cash or surety bond.

Meantime, police said the female suspect, a 30-year-old Farmington Hills woman, has been also been identified and charged — but investigators were still looking for her over the weekend.

Narsh said the theft of nail polish is increasing as it's small and easy to get away with.

"And unfortunately what's happening is they're stealing the nail polish, selling it back to many different venues including...to other individuals who use that, and they're creating an underground cash system for the purpose of buying drugs," Narsh said.

Hill will be back in court for a probable cause hearing set for Monday, Aug. 1.