San Antonio, TX: Woman busted for trafficking in stolen High-end good; $50,000 of items seized
A woman accused of buying stolen items from shoplifters was arrested Thursday morning. Noemi Lopez-Padilla was arrested at El Camaron Pelado on West Commerce, a restaurant she co-owns. Investigators believe the 41-year-old has been buying merchandise stolen from high-end retail stores, then re-selling it to make a profit. They recovered close to $50,000 in stolen property and $10,000 in cash at the time of her arrest. Police say Lopez-Padilla was buying anything that could be re-sold, like clothing and cosmetics. She is charged with organized retail theft. kens5.com

Jackson Co, MS: Major Shoplifting Duo Arrested on I-10; $26,000 of merchandise recovered
On 14th December 2015, at approximately 11:00 AM Jackson County Deputy Matt Wade who is assigned to Jackson County Metro Criminal Interdiction Team, conducted a traffic stop on interstate 10, eastbound near the 57 mile marker on 2007 Mercedes SUV for a tag violation. The occupants were identified as Lauro Mesa age 26 and Alfredo Cruz-Gomez age 27 both from Tampa Florida. Further investigation by Deputy Wade and other interdiction Agents led to the discovery of large quantities of merchandise with tags from Ross department store. Instigators with Jackson County Sheriff's Criminal Investigation Division responded to the scene. Further investigation revealed the occupants were wanted in connection with shoplifting at Ross department stores in Texas, Louisiana, Gulfport and D'lberville Mississippi as well as Panama City, Florida. A thorough search of the vehicle revealed it contained various items stolen from Ross Department stores valued at $26,442.66. These items include clothes, purses, shoes, belts, electronics and fragrances. wxxv25.com

Chicago Police: 10-month investigation leads to stolen merchandise bust
Chicago Police have arrested two southwest suburban men suspected of selling stolen iPhones, counterfeit merchandise and untaxed cigarettes out of a retail outlet in the city. Asad A. Abumuslem, 52, of Oak Lawn, and Saad Abdulhadi, of Midlothian were each charged with one felony count of continuing financial crime enterprise and one felony count of theft, according to Chicago Police. After reports from residents that the store was buying and reselling stolen iPhones, police initiated Operation "Clean Break," which was conducted over a 10-month span by Intelligence Section Officers of the Organized Crime Division and the Asset Forfeiture Unit, according to police. suntimes.com

Wylie, TX: ORC or being Frugal ?? Extreme Couponing Drove Her to Ruin
A mom says she lost her savings and her pregnancy fighting back against Target, which accused her of stealing $27,000 worth of merchandise she split with accomplices on the inside. "It's a steal" when you get a good deal at the store, but authorities say "extreme couponer" Elyse Rumenapp's obscene savings were truly crooked. The warehouse worth of stuff she snatched up on the cheap included razors, common household cleaners, boxes and boxes of flatscreen TVs, iPads, computers, thousands of dollars worth of gift cards, and $3,600 in Visa gift cards she used to buy a boob job. Rumenapp, 25, attracted novice shoppers who gravitated toward the cost-cutting kung fu master to get schooled on saving big. Now the nurse is broke after burning her entire savings to defend herself against criminal charges of "organized retail theft" in 2012. After being acquitted last year, Rumenapp sued Target this week for siccing the police on her and destroying her life. Rumenapp said the two-year ordeal made her suffer extreme "anguish," culminating in a miscarriage. thedailybeast.com

Braintree, MA: Police arrest 19 year old in $1,100 Lord & Taylor theft at South Shore Plaza, seeking 17 year old suspect