Toronto, Ontario's ORC Case Update -  $1M seized Means Over $10 Million Probably Stolen? - Burlington Mall - Mapleview Centre - Markville Mall & several others hit by multi-million $$$ ORC Ring & Fencing Operation busted hitting the GTA this month  A Burlington mall was one of the targets of thieves who stole more than $1 million worth of clothing during a crime spree, including $250,000 in Victoria's Secret bras, says York Regional Police. Investigators with York police say they dismantled a massive shoplifting ring operating across the GTA that stole more $1 million worth of high-end and designer clothing from area malls. York police's No. 5 District Criminal Investigations Bureau - Property Crime section began a shoplifting investigation following a theft from a clothing store at Markville Mall in Markham. Working closely with loss prevention investigators at stores like The Gap and Town Shoes, York police says it discerned a pattern of thefts involving similar suspects that began to emerge at various retail clothing locations.

On March 20, officers conducting surveillance on three of five suspects followed them across the GTA as they allegedly stole clothing from multiple retailers at various malls. One of the malls the suspects allegedly stole clothing from that day, say police, was Mapleview Centre. The suspects' car was stopped later that day with $7,500 in allegedly stolen high-end clothing found inside the vehicle, York police media relations Const. Andy Pattenden told the Post. Following the arrests, a Toronto home was searched resulting in more than $1 million in allegedly stolen clothing seized.

"The basement was set up as a store with security and surveillance equipment", while the home's upstairs was being used as a storage area for more clothing, said Pattenden.

Three women and two men, all Toronto residents between the ages of 34-55, face a total of 19 charges such as theft, and possession of or trafficking in property obtained by crime.

The next court date for all five suspects is April 22 in Toronto.

Editor's Note: With recovering $1M in merchandise at the time of the search what does this mean in so far as how much did this ring actually steal? It had to be well over $10 million and that's a conservative estimate! Which puts this case at the top of ORC cases identified and busted in the GTA area. Great work on everybody's part.  insidehalton.com
 

White Plains, NY Police expose nationwide 'smash-&-grab' jewelry robbers
They'd been at it for months, calmly walking into pricey jewelry stores in broad daylight, smashing display cases with hammers and grabbing expensive Rolex watches. White Plains Detective Lt. Eric Fischer was preparing to coach his son's peewee football practice that Sunday morning in August when he was called in to work instead. The Tourneau store at The Westchester mall had been hit. The seemingly random heists usually took less than a minute, and netted hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of watches from stores in Michigan, Nebraska, Mississippi, North Carolina, Maryland and other states. Over the next few months, thanks to a combination of technology, information sharing, a little luck and dogged, patient detective work, White Plains police uncovered a national crime ring said to be responsible for the Tourneau job and as many as 40 other smash-and-grab robberies. They supplied the FBI with intelligence and evidence that ultimately led to the arrests of Detroit-area "Red Wing" gang members on federal robbery and conspiracy charges. lohud.com

Wayne, NJ Police nab three for shoplifting at Lord & Taylor and Foot Locker  Last Friday at 10:40 a.m. three suspects were observed by loss prevention officers at the Lord & Taylor department store in Willowbrook Mall removing numerous items of clothing and watches from display, hiding them in a baby stroller and leaving the store without paying for them, according to Wayne Police Capt. Laurence Martin. The three adults were stopped outside the store and were taken into the store's loss prevention detention office. Wayne Police Officer Lorenzo Pasano responded and conducted a search which revealed Lord & Taylor merchandise concealed in a beige handbag and a baby stroller belonging to Suleidy Morillo-Vasquez, 25, totaling $666.40. Also $231 in merchandise was found in a brown leather purse that belonged to Leticia Evangelista, 26, and $716 in merchandise was recovered from a Foot Locker bag carried by Manuel Morillo-Vasquez, 25. patch.com

Male ORC duo hits Home Depot for 'numerous' power tools in Westchester County - suspect had outstanding warrants

Elmhurst man hits Saks Fifth Ave. at Tanger Outlets for $2,079 - 17 pairs of sunglasses - had bolt cutters