Houston Police Operation: "Can You Hear Me Now?" - 26 busted in Cell Phone Robbery Ring  Investigators say they've busted a big cell phone theft ring that has ties to the Crips gang. Twenty-four adults and two juveniles are charged in connection with 20 armed robberies since September of 2014, according to Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman. They call themselves "ABM" or All 'Bout the Money. Investigators say they targeted cell phone stores in Harris County and often threatened to kill employees and customers. One of the robbers allegedly shot a Houston Police officer. They sold the stolen phones to a buyer who shipped them overseas. The crime ring is also connected to two FedEx truck robberies last September, Hickman said. Ringleader Terrance Edwards, 24, would recruit young men from the East End to join his team, HCSO investigators say. They were paid $1,000 for each robbery. Charges against the suspects range from aggravated robbery, engaging in organized criminal activity and aggravated sexual assault on a peace officer. The arrests come after a joint investigation called "Operation: Can You Hear Me Now?" by the HCSO, HPD and the Harris County District Attorney's Office. They broke the case open after some of the early suspects arrested started naming names. khou.com

San Antonio Police bust $500,000 ORC/Fencing Operation  After a two month long investigation there's been an arrest in a massive theft ring. Undercover officers from several agencies recovered merchandise from a home on the city's north-east side and a nearby flea market. For the better part of the day undercover officers removed and sealed boxes full of what they describe as stolen items from this north east side home. It was an estimated $250,000 worth of stuff. It took a large moving van to haul it all away. Everything from flat screen televisions, and other electronics; to bicycles and basketballs, perfume and cologne. Neighbors were shocked because police arrested 38-year old James Cross in connection with a theft ring. "In fact we believe he was the leader in a very large scale fencing operation," SAPD Spokesman Douglas Greene said. Detectives believe Cross had thieves throughout the city working for him; stealing from various retail stores like Macy's and Wal-mart. Cross is accused of paying them to bring stolen goods to his home, later to be sold online, or at the Eisenhauer Flea Market. foxsanantonio.com

Jonesboro, AR Couple arrested for stealing from 8 different stores
A Region 8 couple is charged with shoplifting after police said they stole clothes and electronics from several different stores in Jonesboro. The JPD officers could not find the suspects' car after they left the parking lot, but Arkansas State Police pulled them over on Highway 63 in Bay. Police said they found several bags of clothing, shoes and Beats by Dre headphones in the car's trunk. Stolen items were returned to Rack Room Shoes, TJ Maxx, Best Buy, Hollister, American Eagle, Express, Chico's and Dillard's. The stolen items totaled about $2,775. wmcactionnews5.com

Deputies looking for 'Organized Crime' gang - several people stealing credit card info - buying gift cards & merchandise in Houston  Deputies said they believes the thieves are engaging in organized crime. We believe there are suspects working together to obtain information and then using it in other areas," said Sgt. David Schultz in a news release. According to Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers, the thieves collect the information to make fake credit cards and then use the credit cards for purchases. The Fraud-Financial Crimes Unit is working on several cases where information was stolen from Fort Bend County residents and then used in the Houston area. click2houston.com

Boynton Beach, FL man steals $1700 in cellphone cases from AT&T store; also hit Verizon just blocks away  The staff helped other customers as Ash stayed in the phone-accessory section looking at phone cases. As Ash left, an employee noticed him leaving the store holding a large brown bag, an inventory check found 12 Mophie-brand cellphone cases and five iPhone cases, whose total value was $1,700, were missing. The manager reported the theft to police, who said the Verizon store about a half-mile away had a similar incident where a man with the same description. Police checked a pawn database and found some of the stolen cases were pawned at a Boca Raton pawn shop about 30 minutes after the AT&T store theft. sun-sentinel.com

2 arrested in Denham Springs, LA for Organizing Retail Theft Ring
Denham Springs Detectives have arrested a man and a woman in connection with an organized retail theft ring. According to detectives, Charles Lee and Wanda Gail Robinson were arrested after a five month long investigation into the retail theft ring. Detectives say Robinson enlisted the help of various people to steal alcohol and party supplies for a party that was planned for July 25. When a search warrant was conducted on Robinson and Lee's home, detectives found approximately $6000 worth of property along with seven firearms, one of which was a stolen rifle and a shotgun with a 13 inch barrel. Lee and Robinson were both arrested and booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center where they were both charged with felony possession of stolen things, organized retail theft, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a shotgun with less than a 16 inch barrel. kplctv.com