Safeway's ORC Team Investigation: ORC couple busted for hitting Safeway stores in Portland and Central Oregon for more than $27,000  The Bend Bulletin reports that Redmond police say they arrested a 27-year-old woman and 32-year-old man Friday after executing a search warrant at their home and finding several thousand dollars' worth of suspected stolen merchandise. Redmond Police Sgt. Curtis Chambers says he believes the couple was selling the items online in places like Craigslist and eBay.

Safeway's Organized Retail Crime Team contacted police in July after investigating the thefts. "It was their investigation," Chambers pointed out. "They did the hard work and the majority of the investigation. We were happy to become involved and were able to follow up their research with a search warrant." In addition to theft charges, police say the man was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and endangering the welfare of minors because three young children were in the house. kgw.com bendbulletin.com

Five member identity theft ring busted in Southern California - Operating state wide - Target Gift Cards  On Thursday morning, the SWAT Team, probation officers and sheriff's investigators issued search warrants and did parole and probation checks in Santa Ana and Westminster, said Lt. Jeff Hallock of the sheriff's department. During the searches, four semi-automatic handguns, approximately 1/2 pound of methamphetamine, 8 Las Vegas style video poker machines, a box of Target gift cards and several thousand dollars were recovered," Hallock said in a statement.

They also found fraudulently obtained credit cards, card readers, identity theft profiles, card blanks, computers, data storage devices and several cell phones. The five suspects are believed to be working with a larger identity theft ring working throughout California. Orange County Sheriff's Deputies arrested Nhan Hoang Pham, 29, of Fountain Valley; Lam Thanh Bui, 30, of Garden Grove; Chieu Bach Nguyen, 29, of Santa Ana; and Keeta Thilauan, 25, of Santa Ana for multiple thefts and burglaries in the past months in North Orange County, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.  ocregister.com
 

Martinsville, VA Police focused on taking down 3rd ORC ring
Having helped to shut down two organized retail theft rings, the Martinsville Police Department is seeking help from the public in dismantling what it believes may be a third. According to Martinsville Police Chief Sean Dunn, the department has not yet identified the two alleged suspects in a July 24 theft of hundreds of dollars' worth of electric toothbrushes from CVS on East Church Street. although the department is not 100 percent certain that the July 24 incident was connected to a retail theft ring, the perpetrators "operated in a manner that is consistent with organized retail theft," Dunn said. martinsvillebulletin.com

Beaverton, OR: CA couple with fake credit cards targeted Home Depot stores in Oregon  Police arrested a couple from California who officers said used fake credit cards to buy gift cards at Home Depot stores along the I-5 corridor in Oregon. Beaverton police said that on Aug. 8 they learned that stores in Beaverton and Tigard had been targeted by a counterfeit credit card operation. Using a description of the suspects' vehicle, police tracked the pair to Eugene, where officers found them parked in front of a Home Depot store. Eugene police detained Justin Terrell Scott, 26, and Donnisha Leavelle Nears, 28, until Beaverton police arrived on scene and took them into custody. Detectives said they recovered about 30 counterfeit credit cards, gift cards worth about $10,000, $1,350 in cash and other items. kptv.com

St Lawrence Co, NY: Tennessee man going to Prison for 3 years for $40,000 electronics theft for NY Walmarts  Ippolito worked with two women in the thefts and was charged with stealing more than $40,000 in similar electronics from Walmart stores in Potsdam, Massena and Malone. Ippolito told County Court Judge Jerome J. Richards that on Jan. 27, 2014, he unlocked a case in the Massena store containing iPads, iPad minis, and iPod Shuffles valued at more than $3,000 and stole them. The plea deal satisfied a criminal mischief charge pending in Canton Town Court and a third-degree grand larceny charge for alleged thefts of electronics from a Potsdam Walmart. watertowndailytimes.com

Joplin, MO Police working to decrease shoplifting
While most shoppers are searching for the best sale, some are blending in with crowd and getting away without paying for their items. In the past 30 days, more than 50 shoplifting incidents have been reported to the Joplin police. Local law enforcement is looking for ways to help reduce those numbers going forward. "Most of the companies have very good security systems, especially the bigger ones. It's just people think they can get away with it and sometimes they may but a vast majority of times they get caught," continues Hanes with the Joplin Police. Since implementing the Crime Free Business Program, robberies have been down 45 percent. The program gives retailers strategies that are proven to reduce shoplifting such as greeting customers at the door so that they know you've seen their face, removing blind spots, and walking the store. koamtv.com

Florida woman teaches child to shoplift tequila
The woman and the girl, estimated to be about 7 years old, peruse the aisle until the woman points out a bottle and walks away. The girl grabs the hefty bottle and slips it behind her back. She scurries over to the woman only to be told to grab a lighter bottle that's easier to carry. The girl returns to swap the bottle for a smaller substitute -- this time opting for a 750 ml bottle of 1800 Silver tequila -- and attempts to cram it in her tiny pink purse. When that won't work she again hides it behind her back and walks to the front counter to meet the woman. The girl waits with the bottle behind her back until she sees the woman walk into the cashier's line of vision, once she's hidden from view she walks backward out of the store. orlandosentinel.com

Florida Law Enforcement Property Recovery Unit Conference: Nov. 18-20
Law Enforcement and Investigators in the Private Industry, don't miss this conference put on by your association! The conference will be held in Orlando, FL at the Rosen Plaza Hotel. The Group rate is $95 and includes daily parking and internet. (Class sizes are limited). Cut off date for room rate is Nov. 1. For more information including topics and registration, click here.