Twin Cities ORC Association, in partnership with the Minnesota Retailers Association & St. Paul Police Department Professional Development Institute holding its inaugural annual conference & training Aug. 3-4 at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West  Formed last year, the Retail Crime Association is a nonprofit coalition of law enforcement, prosecutors and high-level corporate fraud and loss prevention investigators. Together, the members work to ensure best practices in enforcement and the building of cases for organized retail crime. While the local organization is based in the Twin Cities, Anderson said it is regional and represents Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin. There are roughly 30 similar organizations in the United States, he said.

The Twin Cities-based association has three basic functions, Anderson said. First, it operates a website for its members that offers reporting, resources and analytics to enhance the identification of offenders and targeting of criminal enterprises. "It allows us to share that crime information in real time and find the links," Anderson said. Second, the association facilitates quarterly information and intelligence meetings. Members will discuss trends they are seeing and assist with identifying suspects. The association's third function is to hold an annual conference, with this year's being the first. The two-day gathering offers information, breakout sessions and speakers for a variety of topics to help coalition members train and network. For more information about the Twin Cities Organized Retail Crime Association, visit tcorca.org. forestlaketimes.com

Four East Coast Men Arrested at Best Buy in San Carlos, CA; $125,000 in merchandise recovered  Several suspects were arrested Wednesday for allegedly trying to use fraudulent credit cards at a San Carlos Best Buy, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. The men were found with 131 new iPhone 6s, hundreds of fraudulent gift cards and credit cards along with equipment to make fake cards. The estimated value of the items stolen was $125,000. patch.com

Women rob Soltis Sunglasses at gunpoint inside the La Encantada Mall, Tucson, AZ; $12,000 in merchandise stolen  Pima County Sheriff's Department is investigating the theft of $12,000 in sunglasses at gunpoint on Wednesday, July 22, at Solstice Sunglasses in La Encantada Mall. The store staff was under the impression that the women were going to buy some sunglasses. When they approached the counter, one of the women took out a handgun and told the clerk to "get back". The armed woman went behind the counter and took $12,000 worth of sunglasses into a pink and white bag. The two suspects left the store and fled. tucsonsun.com

"Won't Be Caught" Thief Has Been Caught Often
The woman who wore a t-shirt with the words "Won't Be Caught" as she pilfered nearly $1500 worth of merchandise from a Florida beauty supply store is a notorious member of an organized retail theft operation who, it turns out, has been caught dozens of times, records show. In March, Toccara Marlesha Huff, 33, and an accomplice were recorded by store surveillance cameras as they swiped $1478 in cologne and perfume from a Tampa business, police allege. Police apprehended Huff in late-May and charged her with two felony counts in connection with the beauty store heist. Huff was released on $4000 bond, but when she failed to show for subsequent court hearings, an arrest warrant was issued for her. The fugitive--who is on probation--is a convicted felon whose rap sheet includes dozens of arrests over the past 15 years. Huff, seen in the below mug shot array, was released from state prison last November after serving 10 months for felony theft. thesmokinggun.com

Nordstrom's Shoplifter hits twice in Coral Gables, FL, fled store then discarded the merchandise  Coral Gables Police are looking for a man wanted on a string of theft charges. Investigators said he hit the Nordstrom at the Village of Merrick Park Shops, not once but twice. Police said he is seen on surveillance video July 15, walking around the store, stuffing merchandise worth an estimated $940 into a shopping bag. Police said Nordstrom store security spotted the thief and went after him down the road toward the Metrorail. Police said the suspect then abandoned the stolen items, and his shoes. nbcmiami.com

TJ Maxx shoplifters hit Police cruisers in Attleboro, MA
Two police cruisers were damaged after alleged shoplifters crashed into them with their car while trying to flee from the South Attleboro Square parking lot. Police were called to the TJ Maxx store for shoplifters who fled the store with "booster bags" containing almost $600 worth of merchandise. The driver refused to get out of her car or shut it off when officers arrived and tried to block her from leaving. She drove off, allegedly striking the front bumper and light assembly of one officer's cruiser and nearly hitting an officer. She spun out of control in the parking lot before she hit another Police cruiser and coming to a stop, according to police. The suspect said during her arraignment she was hit by the police cruisers. thesunchronicle.com

Bradley, IL Police arrest suspected baby formula thief
A man wanted in the alleged recent thefts of baby formula was apprehended earlier this week by Bradley police. Weslyn Jackson Jr., 35, also was wanted on five Kankakee County warrants, three for felony retail theft and two misdemeanor domestic battery. Police also arrested him for the alleged theft of more than $1,100 of baby formula from Target on two days in June. Target has signed complaints for seven retail thefts Jackson is believed to have committed. Jackson has told authorities he uses heroin. daily-journal.com

Two Knoxville, TN women busted with $1,300 in stolen merchandise from Walmart

Duo Sought in Crime Spree at South Jersey Walmart; $400 in merchandise stolen