All articles tagged with #organized retail theft
A large, sophisticated retail crime ring in Southern California stole over $10 million worth of merchandise from Home Depot stores across multiple counties, leading to the arrest of nine key suspects and the seizure of millions in stolen goods, in what authorities describe as the largest targeted theft operation in the company's history.
The California Highway Patrol has arrested four individuals for allegedly stealing approximately $300,000 worth of Lego sets from stores like Target, Home Depot, and Lowe’s, and selling them to black-market dealers. The stolen sets included high-value items such as the Millennium Falcon, Lord of the Rings Rivendell set, Lion Knights’ Castle, and a Porsche 911 set. Lego theft rings have been a recurring issue, with similar investigations reported in France and Seattle in recent years.
The California Highway Patrol seized an estimated $300,000 worth of stolen Lego sets from four locations in Los Angeles and Orange counties, arresting four individuals on charges related to organized retail theft, grand theft, and conspiracy. The stolen Legos were allegedly taken from stores like Target, Home Depot, and Lowe’s, then sold under the guise of being legitimately obtained.
California mom Michelle Mack is accused of leading an organized retail theft ring that stole nearly $8 million worth of makeup and luxury goods from stores across the U.S., including over 200 Ulta stores. The scheme involved paying for airfares, hotels, and car rentals for women to steal goods, which were then sold at a discount on her Amazon Marketplace storefront. Mack and her husband face 140 felony charges, including conspiracy to commit organized retail theft, grand theft, and receipt of stolen property, and have pleaded not guilty. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities believe the total loss might exceed $8 million.
Three individuals in Florida are facing grand-theft charges for allegedly stealing over $100,000 worth of goods from Home Depot stores by swapping barcodes at self-checkouts. The scheme involved replacing the barcodes of expensive roof sealer with those of cheaper floor patch, resulting in significant losses for the retailer. The state's attorney general emphasized the state's commitment to dismantling organized retail theft rings, while retailers are reevaluating the use of self-checkout technology amid concerns about increased shrinkage.
Three individuals are accused of running an organized retail theft ring across 11 Florida counties, stealing over $100,000 worth of merchandise from Home Depot stores by switching barcodes on expensive roof sealers for much cheaper items at self-checkout stations. The group stole 281 buckets of roof sealers in more than 25 theft incidents over three years, affecting multiple counties. The accused face charges of grand theft and scheme to defraud, with the Attorney General emphasizing the state's commitment to dismantling organized retail theft rings.
A California man, Roy Lee Harvey Jr., has been arrested for his involvement in an organized retail theft ring after a warehouse containing $5 million-worth of stolen Nike merchandise was discovered in Hawthorne, California. Detectives executed search warrants in Hollywood and at the warehouse, where they found thousands of stolen Nike shoes, clothing, accessories, and prototypes. Harvey Jr. is believed to have been responsible for receiving, redistributing, and reselling the stolen property. The LAPD is seeking information from the public regarding this investigation.
Sacramento County's district attorney, sheriff's office, Sacramento police, and business community representatives held a press conference outside a Walmart on Florin Road to address organized retail theft in the county, emphasizing coordination efforts to combat the issue. The story is still developing, and updates can be found on KCRA 3.
The Los Angeles Police Department recovered approximately $300,000 worth of stolen property in connection with an organized retail theft operation in the Westlake neighborhood. Two search warrants were executed, but it is unclear if any arrests were made. In a separate operation nearby, 12 adults and four juveniles were arrested for stealing merchandise from stores. The LAPD's Joint Organized Retail Crime Task Force has recovered over $1.2 million in stolen property since its launch in August. Despite recent arrests, organized retail theft remains a problem in Southern California.
Home Depot's head of loss prevention, Scott Glenn, testified before a congressional panel about the increasing threats faced by retail workers from shoplifters, including those brandishing knives and guns. Glenn emphasized that retailers are not exaggerating the dangers posed by organized retail crime, which resulted in $112 billion in inventory losses last year. He highlighted tragic incidents where Home Depot employees were killed while trying to stop shoplifters. Glenn also expressed concerns about the rise of third-party platforms selling stolen goods. The hearing aimed to address the issue and consider legislation, such as the "Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act," to establish a federal coordinated response. Law enforcement officials testified about the links between organized retail theft and narcotics, weapons trafficking, and money laundering.
A Home Depot executive testified before Congress about the increasing violent threats faced by the company's employees due to the rise in organized retail theft. The executive highlighted that these thefts often support more nefarious activities such as drug and human trafficking. Factors contributing to the uptick in organized retail theft include the availability of drugs, the rise of third-party marketplaces for selling stolen goods, and a lack of resources for law enforcement agencies. The executive called on Congress to pass a bipartisan organized retail crime bill to address this issue.
A group of eight masked thieves attempted to steal merchandise from a Walgreens store in San Francisco using a wagon-style cart, but police were waiting for them and arrested six of the suspects. The thieves were filling bags and the wagon with items when officers conducting a retail theft operation intervened. The police chief issued a warning to the remaining two suspects, emphasizing that they would be pursued. Organized retail thefts have been a concern in San Francisco, leading to the closure of several Walgreens stores in the city.
Former Target executive Gerald Storch expressed concern over the increasing trend of organized retail theft, as Target announced the closure of several stores in liberal cities due to public safety concerns. Storch attributed the rise in theft to the use of social media and the internet, which facilitate the organization and quick monetization of stolen goods. He emphasized the sophistication of these criminal operations, involving multiple layers of distribution. Storch called for national efforts to dismantle organized crime rings and highlighted the importance of effective police work in combating this issue.
California Highway Patrol's Organized Retail Theft Task Force recovered over $200,000 worth of stolen merchandise and arrested 10 suspects involved in a retail theft fencing operation. The operation, selling stolen goods at swap meets in Los Angeles, was discovered in the backyard of a private residence where the stolen merchandise was stored. The recovered items included stolen goods from Victoria's Secret, Amazon, CVS, Rite Aid, and Ralphs stores. The suspects, from the South L.A. neighborhood of Compton, were apprehended, and nearly $45,000 in cash was seized as evidence.
Authorities in Los Angeles recovered over $200,000 worth of stolen retail merchandise and arrested 10 suspects involved in a retail theft fencing operation. The operation, which sold stolen goods at swap meets, was discovered in the backyard of a private residence. Stolen merchandise from stores such as Victoria's Secret, Amazon, CVS, Rite Aid, and Ralphs was found, along with nearly $45,000 in cash. The suspects, from the South L.A. neighborhood of Compton, were apprehended, and the California Highway Patrol is committed to combating organized retail crime in the region.