Quite the candle thief in Gretna

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Mikequill Estem, 33, was booked Aug. 3 with one count of felony theft and six counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, said Sgt. Brandon Veal, spokesperson for the department. Estem and a few unidentified accomplices are accused of shoplifting goods from the Bath & Body Works store located inside Oakwood Center mall in Terrytown. Estem mostly targeted the store’s popular but pricy three-wick candles, which cost about $27 each, as well as the $9 room sprays, according to the Sheriff’s Office. In one trip to the store on Aug. 26, 2025, investigators allege Estem and an accomplice made off with 25 candles and 20 room sprays worth about $855. The pair entered the store and were seen on camera placing the items into a shopping bag before leaving without paying, according to authorities.

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Detectives with JPSO’s Criminal Intelligence Center say Estem made similar trips to the Oakwood store on an almost daily basis between Aug. 15 and Sept. 8 of last year. She’s accused of stealing about $20,431 worth merchandise in 19 separate thefts, the Sheriff’s Office said.

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