Houston, TX: Many say They were not Connected to Operation 'Wheels and Deals'; Houston Police Made a Mistake
Anthony Almaguer is a husband and proud father of three young boys. His mother, Rebecca, said she's finding herself defending her son's character after HPD released his old mug shot in connection with the organized crime ring. According to HPD's press release, "Charges have been filed against 130 suspects involved in an organized crime ring that committed thefts and property crimes in Houston and surrounding areas." Court records show Anthony Almaguer has not been charged with any crime in 10 years yet he's grouped with 75 other suspects who police say are charged with crimes related to the theft ring. Eyewitness News has heard from five other people who claim they are not involved. Some say they have lost their jobs because HPD released their old mug shots to the media. abc13.com

Perkins Township, OH: Milan Road shoplifters targeted during
"retail crime blitz"
With the help of local, state and federal authorities, Perkins police executed an "organized retail crime blitz" last week in an effort to root out thieves along the Milan Road shopping strip. Two theft crews out of Toledo were arrested, as well as several local residents. "During the two-day blitz, we issued 24 misdemeanor charges and eight felonies, and recovered several thousands of dollars in merchandise," said Perkins police Detective Joe Rotuno. On June 23 and 24, multiple law enforcement agencies joined with Perkins police, and saturated the U.S. 250 corridor. Major retailers in the area also flooded their stores with extra loss prevention, including Walmart, Meijer, Menard's, Kroger, Kohl's, Target, Dick's Sporting Goods and Home Depot. sanduskyregister.com


Kissimmee, FL: $25,000 worth of clothes stolen from Tommy Hilfiger store
Osceola County deputies are searching for a group of men who smashed their way into a clothing store. The burglary happened at the Tommy Hilfiger store on Old Vineland Road in Kissimmee. Deputies say three men threw something through the front window last weekend and swiped $25,000 worth of goods. The men then threw the merchandise in the trunk of a white four-door car and drove off. clickorlando.com


Sparks, NV: 3 women steal $3,800 worth of CVS items
The robbery was reported at about 6 p.m. May 25 at the store on 2300 Oddie Boulevard, Sparks police said in a news release Thursday. Three women in their early 30s entered the store carrying a large purse, grabbed items and hid them in their purse. A store employee confronted the women, and they became "verbally aggressive and fled the store with the stolen merchandise," police said. rgj.com

Crestview, IL: Woman says she started feeling bad, forgot to pay for $600 of merchandise
A Holt woman claims she was shopping at Walmart and, having loaded her cart with over $600 worth of merchandise, suddenly started feeling bad and had to leave, forgetting to pay in the process. Crestview police officers were skeptical and charged her with grand theft and resisting a retail merchant.

The incident happened June 24 at the Crestview Walmart. According to an arrest report, store managers watched 35-year-old Christine Renee Thompson "selecting a large amount of merchandise that she was concealing in luggage and backpacks that she selected inside the store." Managers watched "as she repeatedly tried to exit the store without ever going to a cash register to pay for the merchandise she selected," the arresting officer wrote in the report. She left through the Garden Center exit and was stopped by an employee, who said she needed to return to the store. nwfdailynews.com

Camarillo, CA: On June 17 About $1,180 in merchandise was stolen from the Levi's store in the 600 block of Ventura Boulevard

Victoria, TX: Jason Perez, 37, of Port Lavaca, was arrested by deputies June 29 on a warrant charging him with violation of probation in an organized retail theft between $20,000 and $100,000 case