Authorities arrest Organized Retail Crime suspects in connection to Lowe’s theft in Spring, TX  A month-long crime spree ended Wednesday after deputies arrested two suspects linked to nine documented thefts at Lowe’s stores in Austin, Katy, Houston, Tomball, Kingwood and Spring. The robberies began on Jan. 11 in Round Rock, TX and ended recently in Spring, Texas. Two suspects were arrested: Christopher Beebe, 33, and Brittany Trout, 30. Beebe would allegedly run out of the stores with stolen battery powered tools, primarily drills, chains and saws while Trout would be waiting in a car to drive away. (Source yourhoustonnews.com)

Newark supermarket owner accused of unloading $6K of stolen meat
A theft of $6,500 worth of meat led to the arrest of a supermarket owner for receiving stolen property on Wednesday night, police said. Francisco Almanzar, of East Orange, was arrested while he was allegedly unloading the boxed products into his store on the 700-block of Broadway, said detective Carmen Rivera. A van loaded with the meat had been reported stolen out of Elizabeth by the Magnolia Beef Company. (Source nj.com)

Albany, NY Man sentenced up to 7 years for selling stolen merchandise
A man who admitted he sold stolen merchandise has been sentenced to 3 ½ to 7 years in prison. John Suddard, 40, was sentenced in Albany County Court on Thursday morning. He pleaded guilty back in December. Police say the Fort Edward man received $3,388 for the items at Olde Saratoga Coin in Colonie. He was arrested as he exited the store. (Source wnyt.com)

Robbers target gift cards at 7- Eleven store in Vallejo, CA
Investigators were searching for someone with retail experience in two robberies of the same Vallejo convenience store where the thieves made off with several thousand dollars in pre-paid gift cards. The same 7-Eleven store in Vallejo has been robbed twice over the past week and a half. Police said during the most recent robbery on Feb. 8, one of the suspects took the clerk to a back room while an accomplice loaded $6,000 onto gift cards. The previous robbery on Feb. 2 also involved gift card theft -- about $1,500 in that case. (Source ktvu.com)

6 thieves face organized crime charges in Pike County, KY
A half-dozen alleged thieves, who police believe stole numerous item including meat products, are facing an organized crime charge and a potential for a decade-long prison sentence if convicted. According to an indictment handed down by a Pike grand jury this week, the six suspected members of a group which officials believe to be part of an organized effort to steal items from retail businesses in Pike County could face prison sentences of between five and 10 years if convicted on the class C felony charge they face of engaging in organized crime or a criminal syndicate. Pike Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Bartley said the items stolen included food, medication and cleaning supplies. (Source news-expressky.com)