ORC ringleader of $2.5M theft ring selling on eBay gets 7 yrs. prison in Sacramento - Stole 17,000 items
Jason Samuel Schroeder pleaded guilty in March to interstate transportation of stolen property. The proceeds from the sales were deposited into a PayPal account controlled by Schroeder, and then laundered through ATM withdrawals, cash-back purchases and the purchase of more than $600,000 in money orders.

"Schroeder - well known to loss-prevention professionals in California and other states - brazenly and habitually shoplifted from retailers for the sole purpose of selling the stolen merchandise to unsuspecting customers online," said FBI Special Agent Brandon Simpson. "The ring's impact was significant and forever changed how a variety of goods are displayed at retail locations" in California and Oregon.

According to Schroeder's plea agreement, in October 2012 a sporting goods company with stores in Sacramento reported to the FBI that an eBay account was listing items for sale that the company suspected were stolen. Investigation revealed the account was Schroeder's, although he held it in the name of a confederate. Since 2009, it had listed more than 17,000 items for sale, including sporting goods, household goods, recreational equipment and pet-care products. Virtually all of the new items were stolen by Schroeder or other members of the ring of thieves and sold at a discount. Schroeder, 36, is the sixth person sentenced to prison in the case. sacbee.com

N.Y. Fraud gang busted in Caroline County, VA at Loves Truck Stop with 100 cloned cards
Three men were arrested Tuesday in a cigarette and illegal credit card bust in Caroline County, and the men were all from out of town. "All are from New York, one American and two Jamaican citizens," said Lt. Travis Nutter. Alert clerks at the truck stop tipped deputies off around 12:30 Tuesday afternoon that the credit cards the three men were allegedly trying to use to buy cigarettes were fraudulent.

"After further investigation, and a search of the suspects' vehicle, deputies found more than 100 credit cards, laptop, tablets and skimmers," said Nutter. Deputies believe Rendell Bobb, Odain Richards and Devon McKnight used the skimming device to imprint blank credit cards with stolen banking information downloaded from underground sites online. Sheriff Tony Lippa said what happened Tuesday may have longer tentacles that will most likely lead to federal agencies' involvement. "It's tied to something bigger," he said. "The vehicle was registered to Georgia and tracks them to New York." wtvr.com

Aurora, Ohio, PD battles ORC at Aurora Farms Premium Outlets with grant from Ohio Criminal Justice Services
A special plain-clothed overtime police detail was able to catch numerous shoplifters this summer at Aurora Farms Premium Outlets, Police Chief Brian Byard said Oct. 1. Overall, officers worked 176 overtime hours and recovered more than $10,000 in stolen merchandise, starting June 5 after the city received a $12,000 grant from Ohio Criminal Justice Services.

"Our goal was to combat organized retail theft rings by arresting shoplifters, reduce the number of shoplifting incidents and educate retail associates," Byard said. "Over the course of the three months, the enforcement action resulted in numerous arrests for theft and receiving stolen property, and the seizure of thousands of dollars in counterfeit currency." Byard said those targeted were "professional shoplifters" carrying booster bags and the tools necessary to remove security sensors.

"We are happy to see that some of the habitual offenders have been caught and prosecuted accordingly," Byard said. "We hope to receive additional grant funding in the future for other details around the city." auroraadvocate.com

Newport News, VA: Police arrest five teenagers in connection to gun thefts
Police arrested five teenagers in connection with a gun shop burglary that took place on September 23. Someone in the group drove a stolen car into The Marksman Firearms Training Center & Indoor Shooting Range. He and two other people grabbed 24 guns then ran out of the building. Security cameras recorded the burglary which owner Kevin McClain said took less than a minute. Police arrested 18-year-old Robert Wayles Watkins, two 16-year-old boys, and two 15-year-old boys. Watkins is a convicted felon. 13newsnow.com

Perkins, IL: Distraction Theft: Man switches $2,800 worth of rings
from Kmart with plastic ones
A Tazewell County sheriff's deputy stopped the pickup on Mennonite Church Road. The deputy said Dennis Abbott, 51 told him the ring he'd taken that day from Kmart was in a bag under the rear seat. Twenty-five rings were in the bag. Kmart personnel said two rings containing Kmart price tags with retail values of $1,599 and $1,199 were in the bag and the other rings were plastic. According to the deputy, Abbott told him he'd switched two plastic rings for the real ones. mortontimesnews.com