Dorchester man charged as common and notorious thief after multiple shoplifting incidents from Target and Family Dollar
BOSTON, March 13, 2026, – A Dorchester man with a lengthy history of larceny and violent offenses was arraigned in Dorchester BMC Wednesday for four separate shoplifting incidents, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
TIMOTHY CAMPBELL, 47, is charged with one count of shoplifting, three counts of third-offense shoplifting, and four counts of being a common and notorious thief.
Judge Connor Barusch ordered Campbell to stay away from the locations of the offenses and released him on personal recognizance. Campbell will return to court May 12 for a probable cause hearing.
Campbell has served committed time for shoplifting as recently as 2023 and 2024.
On November 28, 2025, Campell was observed on surveillance video taking $328 worth of children's clothing and bedding from Target at 500 Geneva Avenue in Dorchester and exiting the store without paying. Target loss prevention employees indicated to officers that Campbell is known to them and their location as a frequent shoplifter and has stolen over $11,000 worth of merchandise since 2021 across a total of 53 documented incidents.
On December 18, 2025, Campell was again observed leaving the same location with two comforters in hand, without paying.
On January 14, a loss prevention representative of the 500 Geneva Avenue Target made a walk in report to Boston police, stating that Campbell stole $272.99 worth of bedding and a vacuum. She provided officers with surveillance footage and proprietary reports of the incident.
On January 24, Campbell took $340 worth of bedding and sheets from Family Dollar at 995 Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester. Campbell threatened a store employee with a stick when confronted. The store employee stated that they recognized Campbell from a shoplifting incident the night prior.
“Our goal is to help our retail partners offer enjoyable shopping experiences for consumers and safe working environments for employees. We know that the greatest threat to that goal is repeat retail theft offenders, and we will endeavor to hold them accountable for their behavior,” Hayden said,
Hayden’s office, the Boston Police department, regional retailer groups and small business owners in 2024 launched the Safe Shopping Initiative, an effort to increase consumer safety and help store managers strategize responses to shoplifting and retail larcenies. The initiative formed amid increasing national and local frustrations around retail crime, along with concerns over the closure of several pharmacies serving minority communities in Boston.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Our office handles more than 20,000 cases a year. Nearly 160 assistant district attorneys practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Boston and Chelsea Juvenile Courts and the Supreme Judicial Court. Our office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs for anyone encountering the criminal justice system. We are committed to educating the public about our mission and services while focusing on crime prevention to keep the residents, workers and visitors of Suffolk County safe.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications