Spotlight on Los Angeles Organized Retail Crime Association
LAORCA's Quarterly Newsletter: February 2025

LAORCA - Impact Investigation of the Years Award Winners

Congratulations to Lululemon's Hugo Ocampo and CHP Investigator Nunez for collaborative efforts in 'Operation SoCal Fashion'

In December 2023, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) was alerted by Lululemon regarding a group of six suspects involved in significant thefts across multiple cities, particularly within Los Angeles County. This crew targeted various retailers, leading to widespread losses.

Lululemon's investigation took a pivotal turn when they identified a seller on eBay, operating under the name SoCal Fashion, who was listing large quantities of Lululemon merchandise. After purchasing an item from this seller and conducting an RFID scan along with a video review, it was confirmed that the item had been stolen from the Lululemon store located in Century City.

Further investigation by CHP revealed that over three years, approximately 2,600 packages had been mailed from the same address linked to the eBay seller. The culmination of this investigation resulted in the arrest of five suspects and the recovery of nearly $60,000 worth of merchandise. The total financial impact was estimated at $220,000. This case exemplifies the effective use of collaboration and technology in combating retail theft.

LAORCA joins a league of ORCA's across the United States

In December 2024, LAORCA officially joined the list of Organized Retail Crime Associations (ORCAs) published by LP Magazine. This membership signifies a crucial step in enhancing collaboration and communication among various organizations dedicated to combating retail crime across the country.

This network fosters information sharing, best practices, and strategic partnerships that can lead to more effective prevention and response strategies against organized retail crime. By collaborating with other ORCAs, LAORCA can leverage collective resources, intelligence, and experiences to strengthen its initiatives and improve overall safety within the retail sector.

Click here to read LAORCA's quarterly newsletter


C-Stores are 'On Edge'
Keeping Convenience Stores Safe From Physical Threats

Despite the competition and the variety, every store deals with are physical threats to staff, customers, and the facilities.

"With the convenience store world being very transient, it's an industry where you don't know who's going to walk into your store at any time," says Sean Sportun, national director of loss prevention and corporate security for Canadian supermarket chain Sobeys. Sportun was previously a loss prevention manager for Circle K convenience stores.

The nature of these stores makes them convenient to patrons but also to criminals. Unsurprisingly, thieves often target these sites in the hopes of obtaining cash and goods. Thieves working for organized criminal groups will instead go for goods that can be resold on the black or gray market, such as cigarettes, alcohol, lottery tickets, or other popular merchandise.

But bad actors will also target other sources of cash kept in the stores: ATMs. There are several ways that a bad actor may try to tamper with an ATM, including skimming (where the thief may use one of a few different methods to steal the data embedded in the magnetic stripe on a credit or debit card), jackpotting (using malware to trick the ATM into dispensing cash), and more.

Thieves will also use more aggressive measures that endanger anyone in the store. With a smash and grab, thieves will either break into a store or use a vehicle to ram into the store, hook the ATM to the vehicle, and then drive away to rip the machine out. The ATM is then loaded into the vehicle and the thieves drive away, leaving behind significant damage.

Convenience stores also contend with accidental vehicle collisions. And whether intentional or accidental, vehicles can be as deadly or as destructive as most other weapons. In the United States, it is estimated that vehicles crash into storefronts more than 100 times per day, according to the Storefront Safety Council. Of that number, Rob Reiter, council co-founder, notes that convenience stores are the target 20 times per day.

Convenience on the Edge | Change, Please:  asisonline.org


Shoplifting Surge Being Seen Worldwide
'A growing pattern of organized, cross-border shoplifting operations'

Japan: Guidelines sent to drugstores to combat growing shoplifting rings
Amid the shoplifting epidemic at drugstores across Japan, police have released guidelines aimed at eradicating the organized theft rings, particularly those involving foreign groups. This is the first set of instructions of its kind, which includes measures such as broadcasting warnings in multiple languages within stores.

Other recommendations include enhanced in-store surveillance, prompt reporting to police and displaying high-theft items such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics in empty boxes. The National Police Agency shared the guidelines last month with nearly 400 members of the Japan Association of Chain Drug Stores.

According to the NPA, there were 13,754 reported shoplifting incidents at drugstores nationwide between January and November of last year. The figure has increased significantly from the 8,971 cases reported in 2004, when related statistic-keeping started.

The NPA notes that foreign groups involved in organized theft rings often have clearly defined roles, such as one member distracting a store employee while another steals items.

In some cases, thieves have sent stolen goods in bulk back to their home countries. The agency believes this modus operandi suggests a growing pattern of organized, cross-border shoplifting operations. asahi.com


How Live Video Feeds Help Police Fight Crime
Calif. PD's real time crime center captures video from traffic, body cams to arrive on scene faster, more prepared

"It's kind of like living out an episode of 'Cops' every day," Police Technician Supervisor Austin Simayo said

A Modesto Bee story published when the RTCC first opened in 2016 described the center operating six pod cameras with "360-degree views and pan, title and zoom capabilities," and dozens of other traffic cameras that could feed into the system. Today, there are hundreds of live video feeds. Some cameras are in plain sight, like the big white boxes with the blue flashing lights, but many are not so obvious.

"The whole goal for our Real Time Crime Center is to provide situational awareness to the officers and to help drive down crime in the city of Modesto, so people feel safe," said Police Civilian Manager Cat McFadon.

"We've been able to kind of reduce those big hot-spot crimes like catalytic converter theft, stolen vehicles, all of that," Police Technician Supervisor Austin Simayo said. "So I think the RTCC is playing a big part in reducing those numbers." Simayo added that the center has been successful in identifying hit-and-run collisions.  police1.com

 
Dozens arrested in Philadelphia after Eagles win the Super Bowl: Police

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Case Study
ALTO's Collaboration Leads to Justice for Tucson Retailer

Effective resolution of retail crime incidents is critical for ensuring the safety of employees, protecting businesses, and deterring future incidents. This case study highlights the successful resolution of an organized retail crime (ORC) case involving two defendants targeting a national drugstore retailer in Tucson, AZ.

Through ALTO's partnership with the local legal system, both defendants were held accountable and faced appropriate legal consequences, contributing to improved store safety and a safer community.

Case Overview

The investigation and court proceedings for this case unfolded over the course of a year-highlighting both the intricate effort required to achieve justice and the vital collaboration with legal entities needed to advance cases toward resolution. Through these efforts, ALTO remained actively engaged, coordinating with the Tucson legal system and retail representatives to track case status and provide the store with comprehensive legal advocacy.

In January 2024, the Tucson Police Department launched an investigation. By February 2024, warrants were issued for both defendants after they failed to appear at their arraignments. In August 2024, Tucson Police successfully apprehended both individuals.

Between October and December 2024, the ALTO legal team attended several court hearings related to plea agreements, sentencing terms, and additional restitution. They also collaborated closely with prosecutors for case status updates, ensuring the retailer remained fully updated throughout the process.

Plano, TX: Police arrest women suspected of stealing merchandise from stores like TJ Maxx and Burlington
Plano police bust three women suspected of stealing thousands of dollars of merchandise from stores across the city. Someone from Burlington recognized the trio in a store and contacted the department's detective who specializes in Organized Retail Theft. The Burlington employee told the detective he recognized the women from previous thefts, and told him they were working together to remove the theft sensors from clothes. After they left the store police arrested them for Theft of Property, Possession of Certain Instruments used to Commit Retail Theft, Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, and outstanding warrants. The detectives recovered a whopping $20,000 in stolen stuff from inside their car. The merchandise came from several stores including Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Ross, Academy and Target. After it was all sorted the merchandise was returned to the various stores.  newsbreak.com


Naperville, IL: Police Catch Alleged Thieves With $13,000 In Beauty Products
Three suspects are in custody after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars of beauty products from ULTA Beauty in Naperville last week. Naperville police were dispatched to the ULTA Beauty store located in the 2700 block of Aurora Avenue for a report of a retail theft in progress, where they learned that the suspect was allegedly seen concealing merchandise in his clothing prior to fleeing from the store without paying. The caller, an employee, provided the dispatcher with a detailed description of the suspect. Officers searched the area, locating a subject matching the description inside a nearby vehicle, along with two other occupants. After making contact, officers recovered over $13,000 worth of allegedly stolen ULTA Beauty merchandise.  foxvalleymagazine.com


Memphis, TN: Suspects steal $8K in tobacco products from convenience store
Four suspects caught on security cameras stole approximately $8,000 worth of tobacco products and $1,800 in cash from a convenience store on Monday. On Feb. 10, at 3:31 a.m. police responded to a burglary at Save A Stop 2 in the 1400 block of Pendleton Street in Orange Mound.  wreg.com


Paragould, AR: Man Arrested for Alleged Theft Spree at Paragould Lowe's
A man who has been in trouble with the law before is facing new charges after a recent incident in Paragould. The probable cause affidavit says on Feb. 5, 2025, officers took a report from a Lowe's asset protection employee, according to the probable cause affidavit. The employee told officers that the suspect had entered Lowes, 212 N. 23rd Street, on three different occasions and stole items. The employee provided paperwork and photos on all three incidents. The thefts allegedly occurred on Nov. 8, Nov. 26, and Jan. 24. The stolen items included a Leaf Blower, Flex Tool Set, Dewalt Planar, and Dewalt Heater, totaling $1,381. Paragould Police also noted it was discovered that the defendant was arrested and found guilty of a Theft of Property charge on November 26, 2019.   neareport.com


Decatur, AL: Third person arrested in connection to $1800 Decatur business thefts