A Boston man was sentenced to two years in prison last week for violating probation and stealing more than $30,000 worth of products from Victoria’s Secret and Lululemon.

Essie Billingslea, 34, was charged Oct. 7 in Boston Municipal Court Central Division with three counts of theft over $1,200. Suffolk District Attorney’s Office.

Judge Paul Treseler ordered Billingslea held on $5,000 bail on the charges. He is expected to return to court Nov. 19 for a pre-trial hearing.

At a subsequent probation violation hearing on Oct. 31, Judge James Coffey ruled that Billingslea violated probation conditions set in July by pleading guilty to a retail theft charge and received a two-year suspended sentence.

Boston police on Aug. 27 at 100 Huntington Ave., according to the DA’s office. responded to the Victoria’s Secret store at for a theft report. Store employees reported that an unidentified man with a reusable TJ Maxx bag walked in and took $1,558.50 worth of merchandise.

On Aug. 29, police responded to Lululemon at 208 Newbury St. for a theft in progress. He intervened from his address. The manager told police he saw a man wearing a yellow shirt and black pants place multiple boxes containing 145 pairs of leggings, valued at $29,120, into TJ Maxx shopping bags.

Investigators identified the man in all three cases as Billingslea for similar crimes. Billingslea has been convicted of 20 burglary-related offenses since 2021.

Then on September 4, police were called to the Lululemon store at 776 Boylston Street. A store employee reported that an unidentified man entered the store and placed approximately 31 pairs of leggings into a TJ Maxx bag. The value of the stolen goods was approximately $3,200.

The District Attorney’s office works with regional retailer groups, small business owners and police to discuss security concerns and help store managers strategize against shoplifting and retail theft.

Task force coming from behind reports higher than normal Theft incidents in the city.

“We know that a small percentage of violators are responsible for a large percentage of crimes, and that the basic truth holds true in retail theft crimes,” Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement. “Awareness of repeat offenders is a key component of our strategy to improve store-based safety for shoppers and employees.”

---

Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime and business in the New England area.

---