"Operation Booster Buster" in Sarasota County, FL., cracks down on ORC with 59 arrests  Partnering with local retailers, Sarasota County sheriff's deputies say they arrested 59 shoplifters during an eight-day crackdown on retail theft by organized crime rings. At a news conference Thursday, Sheriff Tom Knight said the suspects were not children pilfering candy or toys, but “boosters” — professional shoplifters tied to an organized crime ring that stole merchandise from local retailers and sold it to pawn shops. Together, the 59 suspects had a total of 407 previous felony charges and 565 misdemeanor charges. "Operation Booster Buster” led to a total of 41 felonies and 58 misdemeanor charges being filed against the suspects. Loss prevention officers from Walmart, Home Depot, Bealls, Bealls Outlet, Burlington Coat Factory, Target and Sports Authority reported thefts directly to a sheriff's sergeant, who alerted deputies. (Source heraldtribune.com)

Leader of extensive criminal enterprise & two accomplices in Downtown Crossing, Mass., indicted- arraigned for counterfeit money, credit card fraud, and drug offenses  Shahab "David" Yousheei, 36, of Brighton, was arraigned Tuesday in Suffolk Superior Court on charges of possession of counterfeit notes, possession of counterfeit merchandise, attempted possession of fraudulent credit cards, possession of credit card encoder, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, two counts each of attempted use of fraudulent credit card, attempted receipt of a stolen credit card and attempted receipt of goods purchased with a fraudulent credit card. Yousheei's brother and another individual were also charged with their involvement in the scheme. Yousheei led a large group of "runners" that carried out an elaborate operation to open new fraudulent mobile phone accounts. They used the fraudulent accounts to obtain high-end electronics and smart phones. Using the fraudulent accounts, the group purchased high-end smart phones at discounted prices made available for new customers. When contacted by law enforcement, those victims whose identities were stolen had no knowledge of either the new accounts or the smart phones being purchased under their name. Yousheei also allegedly provided an illegal credit card encoder to his associates who in turn used fake identities to make credit cards. The associates then used the fraudulent credit cards to allegedly buy thousands of dollars of electronic merchandise of mostly Apple products, including iPads and laptop computers as well as gift cards. Authorities allege that most of these products had counterfeit safety and certification stamps. Investigators believe that the merchandise and cell phones may have been sold at Yousheei's booth or overseas. (Source bankerandtradesman.com)

Hardcore shoplifters in UK with 10 or more convictions responsible for 66% of all thefts & are up 10%

While the overall number of thefts from shops has risen by just two per cent in the last five years, the number caught for at least the 11th time has soared by 10 per cent. The government is planning to introduce tougher sentences in an attempt to get a grip on the mini crime wave sweeping stores and shopping centres. (Source dailymail.co.uk)

ORC - Online seller - shoplifting to meet demand in Ogden, Utah 
Amanda Barnes accrued tens of thousands of dollars by posting new items on online classified sites at half the price of retail. Once a person showed interest in an item, Barnes would supposedly go shoplift the item. "If somebody stopped her, she would say she didn't have her receipt because she hadn't paid for it yet, she was just going out to get her purse," said Odgen police deputy John Harvey. Detectives arrested Barnes after finding her in possession of the grill. Barnes is accused of stealing top-of-the-line items such as grills and tools from big retail stores like Home Depot and Lowes. "She was taking orders and then filling them as she got them," said Harvey. (Source ksl.com) (Source kutv.com) (Source fox13now.com)

ORC male suspect arrested running an "elaborate retail theft scheme" out of his house in Glendora, Calif.  Glendora police arrested a man Wednesday on suspicion of running an elaborate retail theft scheme and seized more than $16,000 worth of allegedly stolen merchandise from his Mentone home. The massive collection of goods recovered from his garage included electronics, toys, tools and other miscellaneous items. "Detectives allege that Fauria has been orchestrating an elaborate retail theft scheme that primarily targeted Kohl's, Home Depot and Target department stores in Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire," Glendora police officials said in a written statement. With help from accomplices, Fauria is accused of manipulating the stores' return policies to buy items, then obtain store credit for them without returning the items, or returning them only in part, Glendora police Lt. Brian Summers said. the investigation is ongoing. (Source sbsun.com)

ORC Trio? - Shoplifter uses stun-gun on Target Asset Protection officer and causes "significant injuries" to another Target employee in Nashville, Tenn.  The suspect and her two young female accomplices are being sought by investigators following the incident at the Rivergate Target store last Sunday evening. While being questioned by Target security, police say one of the female suspects "in pink lipstick, with a pink ribbon in her hair," pulled "a pink-colored stun gun, out of a pink bag," and used the weapon on the officer. Metro police said a store worker different from the security officer was the one who had been "significantly injured" as the suspect fled by individuals in the Target store. Madison precinct Lt. Curtis Watkins told News 2 the female suspect who was briefly detained could face "charges for felony aggravated assault and shoplifting." The two other suspects both fled the scene before they could be detained, but Lt. Watkins indicated the pair could also face shoplifting charges. Lt. Watkins said the trio "had a plan and were working in concert." (Source wkrn.com)