Kalamazoo County Crackdown on 'Candy Boys' Retail Theft: Ordinance Change Targets Organized Candy Theft Scheme at Maple Hill and Westmain Shopping Centers

*Kalamazoo County Crackdown on 'Candy Boys' Retail Theft: Ordinance Change Targets Organized Candy Theft Scheme at Maple Hill and Westmain Shopping Centers*

Children as young as 8 years old are stealing candy bars from local stores and reselling them in parking lots, sometimes with the assistance of adults, according to Kalamazoo County law enforcement.

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office says they have received 30 to 40 reports since October 2025 about juveniles and young adults selling stolen candy at shopping center parking lots in Oshtemo Township. The scheme targets Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, Target, and Walgreens at the Maple Hill Pavilion on West Main Street, then moves to Harding's Marketplace, Kohl's, and Lowe's at the Westmain Shopping Center across the street.

"The kids are running into the stores and taking the candy," said James Porter, attorney for Oshtemo Township. "Employees at Target have called law enforcement to report the 'candy boys' are here."

According to Township Attorney Jim Porter, children can make up to $90 per box of stolen candy. The resale operation has escalated beyond simple theft, with deputies reporting attempted thefts of parked cars, harassment of customers, and even assault in some cases.

Ordinance Change Gives Law Enforcement New Tools

On March 24, the Oshtemo Township Board of Trustees unanimously passed an amendment to the soliciting rules that officially took effect on April 6, 2026. The change removes the exception that previously allowed minors to solicit without a license when representing nonprofit organizations.

The new ordinance requires all solicitors to obtain authorization from township offices before selling goods or services within the township. This gives deputies legal probable cause to confront suspected unauthorized sales and remove individuals from property.

"The spirit of this ordinance update is to strengthen oversight of solicitors and reduce fraud, while intentionally avoiding the collection of personal information about minors," Oshtemo Township stated in a release.

Kalamazoo County Chief Deputy Logan Bishop says the ordinance is not meant to impact legitimate fundraising efforts like Girl Scout cookie sales. Nonprofit organizations must now register with the township clerk, which previously was not required when minors were soliciting on their behalf.

Parents Already Charged

Two parents have already been charged with assisting in the theft of retail products. The Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's Office is reviewing charges of organized retail fraud for the children involved, though no formal charges have been filed against minors yet.

"We're not trying to do anything creating criminal records for people," Bishop said. "This is more or less a tool."

Undersheriff Michelle Greenlee confirmed that while the children have not been formally charged, organized retail fraud is the charge being considered. The ordinance violation itself is a low-level civil infraction.

Business Community Pushed for Action

Muhammad Alfaraj, who owns House of Champions Gym near the impacted area, has seen the young sellers firsthand. He told WWMT that the kids would bother customers early in the day and late at night, with one adult occasionally carrying a large firearm.

"One time there was one dude that was with them, between 18 and 20. He carried a huge gun with them. If you're selling candy, why are you doing this?" Alfaraj said.

Business owners notified law enforcement of the rise in thefts in October 2025. The sheriff's office is investigating 31 cases of parents and children involved in the theft and resale operation.

Targeted Enforcement Strategy

The ordinance change allows community policing officers to move from "consensual conversations" with children selling outside stores to actively removing them from property if they cannot produce proper authorization.

"While it seems to be minor, a juvenile stealing some candy, what they've seen it lead to and what we believe it's leading to is more serious issues in the parking lot," said KCSO Captain Logan Bishop.

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office continues to coordinate with Oshtemo Township to investigate the full scope of the operation and bring accountability to both the sellers and those facilitating the crime.