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 ORC
group of 8 busted & fencing operations discovered in Wichita, Kan., after year
long joint project between law enforcement and retailers to combat organized
retail crime in Kansas, and began in February 2013 Local law
enforcement agencies partnered with area retail and grocery stores to combat
repeat shoplifters and stolen goods buyers. The undercover investigation began
last year when local stores donated thousands of dollars worth of merchandise
for the undercover sales. The first stage involved identifying "boosters" who
were targeting Dillons, Walmart, Target and other local stores. Following
interviews with those suspects, investigators identified more than a dozen
individuals and locations in the Wichita area who were knowingly buying stolen
items at discount prices. The DA's office said many of those buying stolen
merchandise operated markets and restaurants in and around Wichita. The
operation aimed to discourage criminal activity, and focused on shoplifters, and
boosters, who sold the stolen merchandise to third parties for a discounted
price. Many of the individuals buying stolen products operated markets and
restaurants in the Wichita area. The stolen property included thousands of
dollars in meat, electronics, home appliances, baby formula, baby wipes,
detergent and other items. The joint investigation ultimately involved several
agencies, including the Sedgwick County Sheriff, Hutchinson Police Department,
Reno County Attorney, United States Attorney's office in Wichita, Sedgwick
County District Attorney, and the enforcement arm of the United States
Department of Agriculture. (Source
kwch.com) (Source
kake.com)
 Police
searching for east El Paso baby formula thieves Hundreds of dollars in
baby formula was stolen from an east El Paso store and police are asking for the
public’s help to find the culprits. Two men and a woman were caught on camera
taking baby formula from the Target store at 1901 George Dieter Drive. Police
said the first theft happened around 3:20 p.m. April 24. The suspects placed
several containers of baby formula in their cart and left the store. Three days
later the suspects hit the same store and again took several hundred dollars
worth of baby formula. (Source
kfoxtv.com)
ID theft ring of two hitting Nashua stores buying thousands in gift cards -
busted
Laura Minot, of Mattapan, Mass., was arrested along with another Mattapan
resident, Lois Patton, on April 16 by agents from the U.S. Secret Service and
several Massachusetts police agencies. Police had followed the pair from
Mattapan to several stores in Nashua, including Best Buy and the Pheasant Lane
Mall, where they are charged with opening credit accounts using other people’s
information and then trying to use those accounts to buy thousands of dollars in
gift cards, according to court documents. (Source
nashuatelegraph.com)
Hartford, Conn., couple sentenced to prison for $500,000 ID theft and fraudulent
credit card scheme 23-year-old Jonathan Preston and his wife
34-year-old Lumi Nunez were both sentenced in Hartford today. Preston was
sentenced to 46 months behind bars, and Nunez was sentenced to 30 months behind
bars. Court documents show the couple used the internet to get personal
information about people, pretended to be those people, and used their credit
cards. Documents show, the couple charged more than $500,000 to credit cards.
(Source
wtnh.com)
Winston Salem fence busted for credit card fraud - counterfeit and selling
stolen merchandise in Hanes Mall, N.C. Owner of Gold Valley jewelry
store in Hanes Mall busted for using stolen credit cards, selling stolen
merchandise and counterfeit gold. Found in inventory were stolen iPad, stolen
jewelry, and electronics. police believe he may have been a fence and the
investigation is ongoing. (Source
wxii12.com)
DFW ranked ninth for organized retail crime activity
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