Queens couple pleads guilty to role in U.S. largest identity theft case in history that hit Apple and Best Buy stores. "You are a huge criminal. A rip-off artist extraordinary," said Justice Buchter before he sentenced the two-time felon to 5 1/3 to 10 2/3 years in prison for identity theft and enterprise corruption charges. Amar Singh, admitted to Queens Supreme Court Justice Richard Buchter last month that he was the mastermind behind the creation of fraudulent credit cards with stolen account information and sent "shoppers" out to purchase items from Apple and Best Buy for resale. Singh and over 110 individuals were busted in October for racking up $13 million in stolen monies between July 16, 2010 to September 20, 2011. (Source nypost.com)

Major Fencing operation - Flea Market busted in Proctorville, Ohio West Virginia shoplifting case in the spring develops into what a task force says was a ORC gang of 8 to 10 drug addicts who were stealing anything and everything from stores throughout the Tri-State area. The "boosters" would then sell their goods to flea market operators in Proctorville, Ohio. This Saturday the task force raided the flea market and arrested the co-owner and one vendor. From nail polish, ladies face cream, razors, over-the-counter drugs, to just about anything they'd steal it and sell it to these operators. One co-owner of the flea market was apparently unaware of the illegal operation. (Source wsaz.com)

Fencing operation busted in Ottawa, Canada The investigation began after officers received information that the owner of the Cobden Road business, a pizza shop, was taking stolen property into the store. Ottawa police have charged a 48-year-old man after more than $150,000 worth of stolen property was found at a west end pizza shop and inside a nearby home. "The amount of property was overwhelming when the officers went in there," said Staff Sgt. Kal Ghadban. A firearm, cellphones, cameras, passports, credit cards, clothing, toiletries, perfume and household items were found. Heavy-duty tools that may have come from construction sites were also seized. Police believe the items may have been stolen during home and car break-ins, shoplifting and robberies. There’s a possibility others could have taken orders about what items to steal based on demand. The investigation will take some time to complete; police still have to track down the stores or people the items were stolen from. (Source ottawacitizen.com)

Shoplifting ring identified after police pulled them over in their car in Fridley, Minnesota After searching the vehicle, officers found clothing and fragrance items with the price tags and security tags still on them. The trunk had about 100 packages of high-end fragrances, including ones from Victoria’s Secret and Ulta. There were no receipts. Marquita admitted to being the getaway driver for a group of about six people who were involved in an organized shoplifting ring. She said Ebony occasionally helped. More than $2,000 in merchandise was found in the car. Two women were arrested and the investigation in ongoing. (Source kstp.com)

Collier County Sheriff's Office, in Naples Florida, recently launched the the Collier County Organized Retail Theft Association. Through CCORTA an estimated 170 retailers and law enforcement representatives share intelligence information, discuss trends they are seeing, and – ultimately – prevent retail crimes such as shoplifting. (Source yahoo.com)

Aiken, SC check forgery gang of 3 busted hitting Bi-Lo grocery stores with fraudulent payroll checks. Three out-of-state men who investigators said were in Aiken to make a quick buck by printing fraudulent checks and attempting to cash them at local businesses have been charged with multiple felony counts of check forgery. The scam came to light at Bi-Lo on the City's southside this weekend. Police were notified of the scam and found a suspect leaving the store. Investigators believe fake checks have been made under National Insurance, the Collins Group and Bridgestone Firestone. "We don't know how many other cases there are right now," Savage said. (Source aikenstandard.com)