OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP, MI — Elected officials and law enforcement are cracking down on a rise in candy theft at two Oshtemo Township strip malls.
Children will steal the candy from some stores then cross West Main Street to resell the stolen candy outside other stores, sometimes with the assistance of parents. The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office is investigating 31 cases of kids and parents involved in the theft and resale.
Business owners notified law enforcement of a rise in thefts in October 2025, Chief Deputy Logan Bishop said at a Monday, April 6, press conference.
Here are three things to know about the candy theft scheme:
1. What businesses are being targeted?
The children allegedly go inside franchises like Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, Target and Walgreens at the Maple Hill Pavilion, 5022 W. Main St. Then, they travel to stores like Harding’s Marketplace, Kohl’s and Lowe’s in the Westmain Shopping Centre, 5125 W. Main St., to resell the candy…