Police investigate counterfeit clothing case
Police found $50,000 to $60,000 worth of counterfeit clothing and shoes.
Published April 21, 2009
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The Columbia Police Department is investigating counterfeit clothing at the New York Fashion store on Business Loop 70. During the execution of a search warrant last week, more than $50,000 of counterfeit clothing was confiscated.
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Police are looking for the owner of a local store after a search of the business turned up counterfeit Nike and Ed Hardy clothing.
Sgt. Ken Hammond of CPD's Major Crimes Unit said representatives from Nike and Ed Hardy contacted the department after they received tips about the fake items.
Police searched at the New York Fashion store at 601 Business Loop 70. New York Fashion is located in the Parkade Center.
During the course of the search warrant, police found approximately $50,000 to $60,000 of counterfeit Nike and Ed Hardy merchandise.
Hammond said he does not know if the amount of the counterfeit goods confiscated is a high amount for the goods.
"Only Nike or Ed Hardy would know if the amount the counterfeit goods were of high value or low quality," Hammond said.
Hammond said clothing counterfeit crimes do not happen very often but have occurred in the past.
"Usually there are crimes of this nature that happen after investigators from clothing companies find out about counterfeiting of their products, but it's not something that is a reoccurring problem," Hammond said.
He also said these types of crimes occur more often in bigger cities.
New York Fashion was operating without a Columbia business license, the news release stated.
Hammond said the city will investigate the business license issue.
"We have contacted the business bureau in the city of Columbia, and they will follow up on the matter," Hammond said.
Hammond said the owner of the business is under investigation and CPD is in the process of applying for a search warrant for the owner.
"Right now, we are not sure if he lives in Columbia or in the area, but we want to track him down and go from there," Hammond said.
Hammond said the counterfeit clothing that was confiscated has been taken into evidence for the investigation and will eventually be destroyed.
This investigation is still ongoing and anyone with any information that might assist this investigation can contact the Major Crimes Unit of CPD or submit tips on the Crime Stoppers Web site.