Stride Rite Employee Arrested for Stealing, Selling Shoes

detectives on Saturday arrested a Lynn man who allegedly stole sneakers from Stride Rite and sold them at a flea market in his hometown.

According to Lt. Det. Michael McLean, Collective Brands, the parent company of Stride Rite Corporation, came to the police with evidence that an employee was stealing sneakers from the company. 

After an investigation by the LPD detectives bureau confirmed the alleged theft was taking place, police applied for and executed search and arrest warrants for Arnaldo Santini, 29, of 29 Orchid St., Lynn.

On Saturday, July 30, Lexington detectives found Santini at a flea market in Lynn, where he was allegedly attempting to sell 350 pairs of stolen pairs of Saucony and stride rite brand sneakers, which had a wholesale value of $21,000, according to McLean.

Police believe Santini, who reportedly worked in quality control for the Spring Street shoemaker, was the only person involved in the operation. The thefts occurred over a period of about six weeks and detectives are still determining the total number of stolen shoes, McLean said.

“The investigators working on the case did a good job of partnering with the security officials from the Stride Rite Corporation to successfully close the case,” McLean said. 

Santini was charged with larceny from a building.