70 people so far - could be hundreds involved - indicted in organized retail theft ring in Louisville, Ky. hitting Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Wal-Mart and others  Recent arrests stemming from a large scale, organized retail theft will put 70 people in court on September 23 to be arraigned. The Jefferson County Grand Jury has returned 17 indictments against the group for criminal syndication and theft, so far. According to police, the subjects would steal merchandise from Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Wal-Mart and other stores and then return the stolen items in exchange for gift cards. The gift cards would then be sold to pawn shops, according to police. Christopher Gentry, 31, is the latest arrest in the theft ring. According to police, Gentry was stopped outside of a Preston Highway Home Depot on Wednesday after running a stop sign, Police said he had just returned more than $200 of merchandise for a gift card. Upon being stopped, police recovered additional stolen items and heroin paraphernalia from his vehicle. Prosecutors believe the driving force behind the entire operation was heroine addictions. More indictments are expected to come as the Commonwealth Attorney’s office said hundreds of people have been identified as taking part in this criminal activity. (Source whas11.com)

ORC Trio hitting Wal-Mart stores in Southeast Texas busted 
One of three suspects allegedly involved in an organized retail theft ring that targeted the electronics departments of at least four Walmart stores in Southeast Texas is behind bars in the Polk County Jail after he was transferred from the Galveston County Jail and booked in Thursday morning. Perry Domicko Booker, 18, is still being held in the Polk County Jail on felony charges of engaging in organized criminal activity and organized retail theft between $1,500 and $20,000. After further investigation it was determined that there were four other Walmart stores that were targeted by these same three black male suspects," the press release stated. "The investigation continued by other law enforcement agencies sharing information and a vehicle description was obtained along with photographs of the suspects." According to the Kemah Police Department, the three suspects had allegedly also targeted the Walmart in LaMarque shortly before they were arrested. The two adult suspects were taken to the Galveston County Jail, and the juvenile was taken into custody by juvenile authorities in Galveston. "The Livingston Police Department is continuing the investigation, and more arrests are to follow" the press release stated. (Source ktre.com)

Three in Missouri could face 50 federal charges for mail theft and check fraud  Michael Riemer had been on the run since posting bond after being charged in an alleged counterfeiting scheme in June has been apprehended by authorities in Greene County. Michael Riemer, 26, was charged with theft and possession of a forging instrument after housekeepers at a hotel called authorities after they "located what appeared to be printed currency and a pillow with ink on it." Two other people, Daniel Hinton and Heather Allen are also facing the same charges. When police executed a search warrant on the rooms they found a credit card that had allegedly been stolen from a mail box hidden in the ceiling tiles in the bathroom of one of the rooms. Other stolen mail was located in one of the rooms. A copier/printer, magnifying glass, cutting instruments, laminating stock and rubber gloves used to allegedly manufacture bogus documents and/or currency was located in one of the rooms. A laptop computer had the accounts of 38 people; police believe the total number of victims is over 50. Police said, “They would purchase something from one Walmart store on a check, return it to another store and get the cash back. That's how they made their living on this." (Source crimesceneinvestigations.com)

C&S Wholesale employee in Connecticut arrested for the theft of cases of baby formula  The Windsor Locks Police Department has charged Hartford resident Deochand Hemchand with fifth-degree larceny for stealing six cases of baby formula, according to a police press release. Police responded to a theft report at the C&S Wholesale warehouse, located at 100 King Spring Road, just before 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 18. Hemchand, 37, is scheduled to appear in Enfield Superior Court on Oct. 1, police report. (Source patch.com)