Undercover police task force busts $1M ORC shoplifting ring in Middletown, Ohio, hitting four counties and 13 cities  A Middletown task force has busted 57 men and women ORC gang hitting Wal-Mart, Meijer, CVS, and Family Dollar stores. The boosters stole stole everything from mascara to plasma televisions from local retailers for resale at area flea markets, pawn shops and on the Internet. Police said they executed 16 search warrants and seized 24 vehicles and approximately $300,000 in stolen merchandise, including about $250,000 from vendors at the Caesar Creek Flea Market in Wilmington. Stolen items ranged from toiletries such as shampoo, body spray, detergent and cologne to high-end electronics, DVDs, computer games and vacuum cleaners. The shoplifting operation spanned across four counties and 13 cities. The thieves would work in teams of three, four, six or eight people, and some teams even had names such as “The Dayton Gang” or “The Pawn Shop Gang,” police said. The teams would surround an area of the store, such as the electronics department, and several team members would distract the cashier, while one of two others would be responsible for stealing items, police said. The retail theft task force cost $39,450 and came in about $5,000 under budget. The project was funded through the department’s mandatory drug fund, which is money generated through drug cases and court restitution, he said. (Source middletownjournal.com)

New Kensington police questioning female suspect in $30,000 ORC thefts from Wal-Mart in Pittsburgh, PA.  New Kensington police last Thursday arrested a city woman who they say matches the description of someone wanted in a string of Wal-Mart thefts totaling $30,000. North Huntingdon, Cranberry and East Franklin police each questioned the suspect in custody regarding her potential involvement in Wal-Mart thefts in those towns, according to the criminal complaint. It states that each department considers Radeshak a suspect in those cases as well. Radeshak in 2011 pleaded guilty in Westmoreland County Court to four retail theft charges. (Source triblive.com)


Two charged with Organized Retail Theft under new law in Fayetteville, N.C.
David George Ruggles, 33, and Shawna Lee Ducharme, 31, both of the 500 block of Rodie Avenue, were charged Monday with felony possession of stolen goods, organized retail theft, and conspiracy to steal more than $1,500 in merchandise from the Barnes & Nobles bookstore with the intent of reselling it for financial gain. They are accused of using an aluminum-lined bag to conceal merchandise from an anti-theft detection device. (Source fayobserver.com)

Two busted in Sarasota, FL., with 120 counterfeit credit cards hitting several retailers  Deputies located 35-year-old Alfredo Torrella and 39-year-old Orlando Rodriguez Friday night after they tried to purchase Home Depot gift cards with several credit cards that were declined. During a search of their rental vehicle deputies found 120 counterfeit credit cards, personal information for 29 different victims and a fake driver’s license. The suspects admitted purchasing the cards and information from someone in the Miami area for about $4,500 and were frustrated because many of the cards didn’t work. While the suspects made purchases in two stores, it appears deputies stopped their crime spree shortly after it began. (Source mysuncoast.com)

‘Time Factory Outlet' store employee stole 850 watches in Woodbury, New York
Daryn Bleach, 23 an employee of the Time Factory store, attempted to stage a burglary by cutting the alarm wires and stealing 850 watches valued at $245,000. A co-conspirator has also been charged in the case. All $245,000 worth of watches have been recovered. (Source recordonline.com)

$1000 in Baby Formula stolen from Albany-area Target
Albany police were called at 8:59 p.m. to a report of $1000 worth of baby formula was stolen by two women and a man at Target. The suspects fled in a dark green four-door late '80s vehicle. Disposition: Case report taken. (Source patch.com)