More on the 4 Kroger cashiers ringing up almost $70,000 in fraudulent coupons in Houston. "These employees had been using a coupon override code and were accepting payment from certain customers to do this," Humble Police detective David Scott said. It was Kroger's own loss prevention department that spotted the thefts and did most of the investigation before handing it over to police. "As a company, we take organized retail crime seriously," A Kroger representative wrote in a statement. "The associates involved have been terminated and charged with felony theft. As for the customers who presented the worthless coupons, the investigation is ongoing. Police said they believe there were many people involved and they haven't been able to identify everyone. Police said they believe this same kind of scheme is going on in stores in and around the Houston area. They said more arrests are pending. (Source click2houston.com)

ORC Ring of three busted in Tulsa, OK., stealing over $100,000 of merchandise from local stores. Tulsa police Department's Organized Retail Task Force arrested three women and found stolen property at suspect's homes, including a $36,000 ring stolen from a local retailer. Police expect more arrests could come later as a result of this investigation. (Source kjrh.com)

Dallas PD bust ORC fencing boss and "large shoplifting theft ring". A new crackdown on organized retail theft in Dallas has netted police their first arrest. But the effort is taking police away from responding to smaller shoplifting cases and that has some retailers upset. Dallas police are on the lookout for so-called "fencing bosses," who send thieves into stores to steal items they can re-sell at a deep discount and high profit for the crime ring. Police have put Salvador Martinez Duarte, also known as "Gabriela," behind bars. He's charged with organized retail theft for allegedly stealing and re-selling more than $13,000 worth of items from stores including Target. Police said Duarte's ring of thieves made off with handbags from DSW Shoe Warehouse and bridesmaid's and party dresses from David's Bridal. (Source nbcdfw.com)

One of Scotland's ORC professionals brags about how Christmas orders kept her busy and how she can remove all types of security tags and get around most security. 'It is getting harder to maintain standards and keep regular customers happy but I can normally get round the system. The knack is to go very early in the morning before all the security guards are on duty and when the sales staff are still setting up. They just don't notice what is going on. On a good day I can get away with around pounds 300 ($465) worth of stuff.' and she goes three times a week. (Source independent.co.uk)