Connecticut Dem Caught Shoplifting at Target, Uses Ailing Grandma as Excuse [WATCH]

Connecticut State Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan, a four-term Democrat, was arrested Monday night after security footage allegedly showed him shoplifting at a Target in Bethel by failing to scan items at a self-checkout station, as reported by The New York Post.

According to a police report obtained by CT Mirror, store personnel detained Allie-Brennan after he neglected to scan two items totaling $26.69. The incident took place at a Target location roughly 60 miles southwest of Hartford.

ICYMI: Connecticut Democrat State Rep Raghib Allie-Brennan voted in 2019 to BAN stores from giving single-use bags.

He was just arrested for shoplifting and blamed it on… the store not having bags.

You can’t make this up. pic.twitter.com/BZxBQQSjtj

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 25, 2025

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The loss prevention team told Bethel Police they recognized the state representative from “previous unreported larcenies.”

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Allie-Brennan, 33, who has served in the Connecticut House since first being elected in 2018, addressed the incident in a Facebook post Tuesday. In his statement, he acknowledged the situation but offered multiple explanations.

“During a recent visit to the Bethel Target, two items in my armload of others were not scanned. I was in a rush to bring items to my grandmother in the hospital, the store didn’t have bags, and I was juggling multiple purchases,” Allie-Brennan wrote.

He added, “While I do not have a record, I take full responsibility for the error and am working through the legal processes to resolve the matter quickly and respectfully.”

The representative also stated, “I respect the law and Target’s right to enforce their loss prevention policy, and I remain committed to serving my community with transparency and integrity.”

Connecticut House Speaker Matt Ritter also released a statement responding to the incident. “He recognizes the high standard to which I hold our members and is taking responsibility for inadvertently leaving the Target self-checkout without scanning several items,” Ritter said.

The Bethel Police Department has not released further comment on whether charges will be filed or if previous incidents referenced by Target staff will be investigated.

Allie-Brennan did not respond to a request for comment from The New York Post.

Too good, @CTDems State Rep Raghib Allie-Brennan gipes (steals) from Target. “I did it for my sick grandmother.” Perfect. pic.twitter.com/GIf63XZHEU

— Tom Shattuck (@tomshattuck) June 26, 2025

The lawmaker currently represents the 2nd District, which includes parts of Bethel, Danbury, Redding, and Newtown. He was re-elected in 2022 and has served as the House Vice Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee.

The Connecticut General Assembly has not announced whether it will take disciplinary action in light of the incident.

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