Shoplifters love them all the Back Bay stores, but Lululemon seems to be a favorite

A man and a woman face charges in unrelated shoplifting incidents in which both targeted Lululemon outlets in the Back Bay.

Serial shoplifter, Essie Billingslea, 34, of Boston - 20 shoplifting convictions since just 2021 - however, won't have to worry about further arrests for awhile, because a Boston Municipal Court judge sentenced him last week to two years in jail for violating parole on one of his earlier shoplifting convictions, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

He had been wanted for a string of shoplifting incidents at, among other places, both Back Bay Lululemons - the one on Newbury Street and the one at the Pru - as well as at the Pru Victoria's Secret - always using T.J. Max bags to haul away his loot. According to the DA's office:

On August 29, police responded to Lululemon located at 208 Newbury Street for a larceny in progress. The manager reported seeing a male wearing a yellow shirt and black pants conceal multiple boxes containing 145 pairs of leggings, with a value of $29,120 into T.J. Maxx shopping bags.

Billingslea was also wanted for lifting a mere 31 pairs of leggings - worth $3,200 - from the Pru Lululemon on Sept. 4, and $1,558.50 of stuff from the Victoria's Secret.

Separately, Boston Police arrested an Ipswich woman on shoplifting charges after allegedly taking 48 items, worth $4,812.94, from the Pru Lululemon shortly after 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Kourtney Elizabeth McLean, 33, was charged with larceny over $1,200, police say. Police did not specify if she limited herself to leggings (yes, the chain sells other stuff) or what she used to carry everything.

At her arraignment at Boston Municipal Court, a judge ordered her held behind bars when she could not come up with the $750 bail she had set. Mclean is next scheduled for a court appearance on Dec. 3.

Innocent, etc.