Fencing Operation busted in Chicago - $40k worth of stolen baby formula, razor blades, over the counter meds - Walgreens Jerry Biggs on video  Chicago-area police executed search warrants on two homes, a business and three banking institutions Monday in what investigators called a major fencing bust aimed at recovering thousands of dollars-worth of stolen merchandise. Police arrested three people, seized more than $100,000 in cash, and recovered approximately $40,000 worth of stolen baby formula, razor blades, over-the-counter medications and other goods sold at stores like Target, CVS and Walgreens.

The River Forest Police Department organized the operation, which stretched from the suburbs to the city of Chicago. The Chicago Police Department, Illinois State Police, Cook County State's Attorney, USDA and Department of Homeland Security provided assistance. Security representatives from retail stores, including Walgreens, helped police recover evidence from the JJ Food Mart at 285 North Pulaski in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago.

In their analysis this was one of the larger ones so it was a good one to take down," said Officer Ben Laird of the River Forest Police Department.  nbcchicago.com

California Shoplifting Crew Continuing to Steal High End Sunglasses From Lenscrafters stores in Fayette County, GA  Police are searching for suspected shoplifters they said are taking high-end sunglasses from local stores. Officers say they have stolen from the Lenscrafters store in Fayetteville twice lately. A man and a woman and a man and a pregnant, woman, with a 5-year-old child, got away with more than $7,000 in high-end shades. Police said the man stuffed 23 pairs of sunglasses in his pockets. They said the couples that police call the "California crew, traveled all the way from the west coast to commit the crimes. Police said the same couple hit a Lenscrafters in Fayetteville, Dunwoody, and Chicago. wsbtv.com

Police seek information on 2 shoplifters possibly involved in organized retail crime hitting Belk in Johnson City  According to the release, JCPD officers responded to a shoplifting incident at Belk on 2011 N. Roan St. on Sunday. Two individuals entered the store and filled laundry bags with clothing. Police believe the two to be a part of an organized retail theft group, the release said. The investigation on the case is ongoing, and the JCPD is seeking any information on the incident. johnsoncitypress.com

Police bust organized oxycodone drug ring that forged 186 prescriptions, obtained 25,000 pills - valued at $625,000 in Richmond, VA  The counterfeiters "knew the right terminology to put on them, and they were familiar with the DEA numbers of doctors," McKenna said. The prescriptions also included a telephone number for pharmacists to call if they had questions about legitimacy. They would put a false number on their phony prescription, but it would go to a burner phone," a prepaid cellular phone used by some to avoid leaving a trail and getting caught in illegal activities, McKenna said. "So if a pharmacy called, they'd be calling this co-conspirator on the other end that sounded knowledgeable and who would say, 'This is doctor so-and-so's office and that's a legitimate prescription.' " Our working theory is that each person knew that there was an organization that he was taking part in," McKenna said. "But a conspiracy doesn't necessarily mean that everybody knows everybody. It just means that they know there's an organization aspect to it, and they're taking part in that." McKenna said the ringleaders received instruction on how to counterfeit prescriptions, and they would manufacture the prescriptions on their own computers or at public libraries. Investigators unraveled the scheme by tracking the phony prescriptions, interviewing physicians and pharmacists, and reviewing pharmacy surveillance camera footage to identify the people picking up the drugs in multiple counties and cities throughout Virginia. richmond.com

Fencing Operation: Organized Retail Gift Card Theft Ring busted in Marion County, FL  Undercover agents with the Marion County Sheriff's Office say they have busted a theft ring. Investigators say members of the ring would steal items from area Walmart stores then return the merchandise in exchange for Walmart gift cards. The Sheriff's Office said Jay Parvadia, 45, who owns the BP Food Mart located at 11960 SE Highway 301 in Belleview, would buy the gift cards for less than their value and then resell them. Detectives began an undercover operation and over the course of several days were able to infiltrate the crime ring. Investigators say they confiscated merchandise and over $10,000 in cash. Parvadia was arrested and charged with four counts of dealing in organized stolen property. mynews13.com

Suspects steal 39 iPads from Paulding County, Ga., Walmart - Again - Crew working metro Atlanta  The suspects struck at 4:30 in the morning, when no one was working in the electronics section. Paulding County Sheriff's Cpl. Ashley Henson said the suspects began by taking a two-drawer filing cabinet from the office supply section. They then broke into a locked cabinet full of iPads and hid 39 of the electronics in the cabinet's box. Henson said similar incidents have been reported at Target and Walmart stores across metro Atlanta. 11alive.com

Phoenix Police search for 8 Suspects in Saks Fifth Avenue Handbag Heist
A daring daylight handbag heist at a luxury department store in midtown Phoenix has left police searching for eight suspects. The incident took place Saturday at the Biltmore's Saks Fifth Avenue. The thieves took off with tens of thousands of dollars' worth of designer handbags, but customers say, they question whether it may have been a little too easy. Looking in the windows of Saks Fifth Avenue, you can see the expensive, beautifully displayed designer handbags. A witness who says she spoke with an associate who was working at 10:15 Saturday morning when, police say, eight men wearing hoodies over their heads grabbed at least a dozen purses off the shelves and fled. azfamily.com

RI woman accused of stealing cart full of baby formula from Buy Buy Baby in Nashua, NH  A Rhode Island woman is facing a felony theft charge accusing her of shoplifting a cart full of baby formula from Buy Buy Baby in January. Nicole Maynard, 36, of Providence, surrendered to police Monday morning. Police had an outstanding arrest warrant charging her with theft by unauthorized taking, a Class A felony. The theft took place about 3 p.m. on Jan 22 at Buy Buy Baby. Police said Maynard was recorded on the store's video surveillance system leaving the store with the cart of baby formula, without paying for it. Maynard was identified by detectives with the assistance of Massachusetts police agencies. unionleader.com

Yonkers, NY man arrested for stealing $746 in purses from Macy's in the Palisades Mall  A Yonkers resident was taken into police custody on Saturday after he was accused of trying to smuggle stolen merchandise out of a store in the Palisades Mall by hiding them in his pants. Police were called to the Palisades Mall 's Macy's at around 7:45 p.m. after a loss-prevention employee reported suspect Karl Davis, 50, of Yonkers, had stuffed two purses valued at a combined total of $746 into his pants and leave the store without purchasing them. When the employee attempted to stop Davis from leaving the store, a struggle ensued before the suspect was arrested by responding Clarkstown Police. No injuries were reported in connection to the altercation. rocklandtimes.com