Fencing Operation: Norwood, OH., police bust 3 in suspected fencing operations at local businesses - Kroger's ORC Team & Wal-Mart's Global Investigations Team  Three people face criminal charges after police say they knowingly purchased thousands of dollars worth of stolen goods from people trying to get money to buy heroin. Investigators believe the owners of Sherman Market and McKiddy Automotive in Norwood were fencing items stolen from other retailers through their stores. The Norwood Drug Task Force worked alongside the Kroger Organized Crime and Global Investigators of Wal-Mart Corp. Inc. participated in a two-month investigation before police made the arrests Thursday. The investigation started after officers noticed they were arresting the same people again and again for shoplifting at the Norwood Kroger and a nearby Walmart.  Some of the goods recovered include high-priced electronics like cellphones, video games and DVDs. But they also went after everyday objects such as cigarettes, energy drinks and lighters. In one instance four smartphones stolen from the local Walmart have retail values of $700 each, Murphy said, but the shoplifters sold them for a total of just $100. McKiddy Automotive's reputation has earned it the nickname "the Heroin Pawn Shop," according to Murphy. wcpo.com

St Augustine Premium Outlets - a hotspot for ORC  Two women are being sought in connection with the theft of three belts from a St. Augustine Premium Outlets store on Wednesday evening. These are returning shoplifters and over the past few months more thieves are realizing that the St. Augustine outlets is a hotspot for the five-finger discount. The women looked like the suspects from another theft at the store in August. The three belts were valued at $600. A popular sunglasses shop at the outlets was also the target of a hefty burglary once in January. The thieves stole more than 400 pairs of Prada, Coach and Versace sunglasses. The merchandise was worth more than $50,000. Earlier this month thieves broke in through the roof of Rainbow Shades on State Road 312 in St. Augustine and stole $200,000 worth of sunglasses. This is basically known as organized retail theft. news4jax.com



Organized theft ring targets Countryside Mall
Clearwater Police detectives are asking for the public's help identifying multiple suspects who have pulled off recent organized retail thefts at Westfield Countryside Mall. Police say on Tuesday, the suspects entered Dillard's and Macy's and were immediately recognized by store security as suspects from past incidents at the mall. Sales associates were notified and the suspects left without incident. wtsp.com


Florida man arrested in cloned credit card scheme with $20k in gift cards in St. Charles, MO  A 74-year-old Florida man is in custody after he apparently bought a large number of gift cards with cloned credit cards. Enrique Felix Franco of Miami was charged Thursday with trafficking in stolen identities and identity theft. According to police, a security officer at the St. Charles Target store, saw Franco making multiple purchases of $200 gift cards Sunday and became suspicious. A check revealed that purchases were made with six different credit cards that appeared to be cloned. Franco fled the area before he could be stopped but was arrested later in Maryland Heights. In addition to the credit cards, police found $20,000 in gift cards in his possession as well as counterfeit drivers license from New York. stltoday.com

ORC male stealing Dyson's, TV's, and other easy re-sell merchandise busted hitting Kohl's - habitual offender in North Kingstown, R.I.  After loading his car with a Dyson vacuum, a 32-inch LG LED TV, a pair of sneakers and a Keurig K-Cup drawer on Feb. 8, Michael A. Slonksi allegedly walked right back into the Kohl's in North Kingstown with plans to steal another vacuum, two camcorders and a T-shirt. He was stopped after a loss prevention employee for the store called North Kingstown police and he was soon in police custody after admitting to taking the items and turning over a pair of clippers he said he was using to cut security tags off the merchandise.  patch.com

$5,400 of Nicorette gum, razors, Zegerid and Prilosec the target of an ORC thief at Walmart in Birmingham, AL 

The Buckle in Carriage Crossing, Collierville, TN Smash and Grab burglary for over $13,000 in cash and merchandise

New York woman extradited to Connecticut on credit card fraud charges dating to 2009

Women steal over $1K of liquor from Walmart in Slidell, LA; lead police on car chase 

Alabama woman due in court, connected to 10 Southern California jewelry thefts totaling $47,600