Los Angeles Area Organized Retail Crime Association - LAAORCA - Announces 5th annual conference March 6, 2014

Syracuse Fencing Operations Busted in 7 Stores - Onondaga County - Greater DeWitt Retail Theft Coalition  Syracuse Police raided seven stores and arrested eight people for allegedly selling stolen goods that range from baby formula to synthetic marijuana to energy drinks. This is not shoplifting. This is an organized group of thieves that are selling this product to supply their own and often illicit behavior," said Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner. Retailers including Wegmans, Tops and Walgreens have been monitoring "boosters" who steal items from their stores with the goal to resell them. It's called organized retail crime. This week was the culmination of a six month undercover investigation into the issue. Police raided seven Syracuse corner stores and arrested eight people for accepting stolen goods with the intent to resell them. Police confiscated a number of items including, baby formula, synthetic marijuana, cigarettes and handguns.  (Source twcnews.com)

Clarksville, Tenn. - Local police meet with retailers to combat ORC - $80,000 in cases solved since 3-13'  The Clarksville Police Department’s (CPD) District 3 Criminal Investigations Unit met with local retail personnel (LRP) Wednesday, Dec. 11 to discuss current retail crime trends. Law enforcement agencies collaborate with retail personnel to detect and deter retail theft and investigate potential ORC cases. Information was shared from both the CPD and from the LRP. The bond developed between the two entities has created an even more dominant crime solving team. Since the inception of this program in March 2013, numerous cases have been solved to the sum of approximately $80,000. There were four crimes solved in the meeting on Wednesday. These meetings will continue monthly and there are plans to expand to not only cover current crime trends, but to also provide job specific training. (Source clarksvillenow.com)

Identity theft ring - skimmers convicted after hitting International Mall
The fraud ring used key loggers that intercepted and stored information from credit and debit cards swiped at International Mall, especially at the Haagen-Dazs ice cream store. A Tampa federal jury convicted Viviana Reyes of multiple charges related to a credit card fraud and identity theft ring that focused on credit card terminals at International Mall. Four of Reyes co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to charges for their roles in the scheme. She will be sentenced in March. (Source greekherald.com)

Serial shoplifters arrested in Cumming, GA after one too many tries hitting Publix stores  Two men allegedly were caught in a shoplifting act that involved returning items without receipts, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff's incident report. Hitting Publx and returning items with receipts. The suspects were caught at a Publix store. (Source northfulton.com)

5 women thought to be part of shoplifting ring arrested in Stuart, FL.
Five women were arrested Thursday afternoon and charged in connection with an active and organized Treasure Coast shoplifting ring. The loss prevention officer for the Stein Mart at 2508 S.E. Federal Highway in Stuart told sheriff’s deputies five females were working together, removing security sensors and concealing merchandise, according to arrest reports. Several clothing items from several other stores, including Ross. (Source tcpalm.com)

Huge $2M+ Credit Card Counterfeiting Ring Bought Lots of Cosmetics
The feds have swooped in on a large and well-organized gang of New York credit card counterfeiters who allegedly shuttled mules around the country to buy $2 million worth of gift cards and other goods for resale, including $30,000 in cosmetics. Ze Xi Qiu, aka “Superman,” allegedly led the ring alongside Doufu Ke, Hong Gang Yang and Huaming Dong, all from Queens, New York. From July until this week, they allegedly purchased stolen magstripe data from online carder forums and used it to create over 1,000 fake credit cards. They passed those cards out to teams of “drivers” responsible for transporting shopping crews to malls in New York, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. (Source wired.com)



Jefferson County, TX looking for member of shoplifting ring
A spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office says a woman described as a serial shop lifter is part of a shop lifting ring hitting businesses in Southeast Texas. Deputies are searching for Elizabeth Regina Carrier, 32, on at least 9 charges of shoplifting with bonds totaling $175,000. (Source 12newsnow.com)



Two Indicted in Salem, Mass. Organized Mall Theft Ring hitting Abercrombie and Fitch  One individual could face up to 7 years in jail for her role in stealing merchandise using devices that blocked the mall's theft detection systems. Two Massachusetts women indicted in Rockingham Superior Court on charges they were part of an organized retail crime ring. (Source salem-nh.patch.com)