Police: Woman Stole $700 in Hats, Pepper Sprayed Neiman Marcus Staff

A shoplifter pepper sprayed Neiman Marcus staff after they confronted her about stealing $700 in hats from the store, Prince William County Police said. 

Lakisha Tyra Watson, 33, of Windsor Mill, Md., is charged with two counts of malicious injury by caustic substance and one count of robbery. 

A 54-year-old Woodbridge woman who was working with loss prevention at the Neiman Marcus in Potomac Mills Mall reported the incident on Sunday at 2:14 p.m. She said that she saw Watson stealing hats, then confronted her inside the store. After the employee tried to take back the hats, valued around $700, Watson pepper sprayed her in the face, police said. 

"At that point, the accused grabbed the merchandise and fled towards the parking lot," police spokesman Officer Jonathan Perok said in a press release. "Another employee of the store, a a 50 year old man ran after the accused. A physical and verbal altercation ensued in the parking lot between the second victim and the accused."

Perok said that Watson then sprayed the man in the face, then fled on foot. Officers apprehended her. No one was injured, aside from irritation from the pepper spray. 

Watson is held without bond pending her court date.