The D&D Daily's Q2 ORC Report: A data-driven, detailed audit of publicly reported ORC crimes in the U.S.

In the first quarter of 2016, the D&D Daily released exclusive reports about ORC trends in the United States and in which direction these crimes were headed for the remainder of the year. The number of cases in 2016 appears to be on track to beat last year's figures, with ORC cases in the first half of this year surpassing those reported during the same period in 2015.

In the second quarter of 2016, the Daily reported a total of 395 cases involving 904 suspects and over $230 million. Combined with the first quarter, the yearly total of publicly reported ORC cases now stands at 763 through the first half of 2016, slightly ahead of where the numbers stood after the first half of 2015 (745 cases). 

The top five cases by dollar amount reported by the Daily in the second quarter were:

Woman gets 3 years for role in $200M credit card fraud scam

9 charged with robbing 10 jewelry stores of $6 million in designer loot

Counterfeit perfume seized in major New York raid; $2.6 million operation

Police make 130 arrests in "Operation Wheels and Deals" crime bust; $2 million in stolen items

Leader of $1.2 million stolen credit-card ring gets five years in prison

Of the 904 total suspects reported in the second quarter of 2016, 441 were male and 251 were female; 212 suspects had no reported gender. Below is a gender breakdown of second-quarter suspects reported in the D&D Daily since 2012. While there has been a slight dip in reported male suspects from Q2 2015 to 2016, increases in female and unidentified suspects more than make up the difference.

Regardless of all other variables as it relates to the dollar amount reported, one fact remains: the number of cases that are reported and the number of suspects continues to rise quarter by quarter.

Of the reported cases, the most popular methods used were theft (45% with 170 incidents), shoplifting (20% with 77 incidents) and credit card fraud (9% with 35 incidents). These three methods alone combined for a total of 282 ORC cases in the second quarter - nearly three-quarters of all reported cases.

The graph below shows these and other various methods used in ORC cases reported by the D&D Daily in the second quarter of 2016.

* Theft categories determined by state laws and journalist.
* "Other" methods include: Check Fraud, UPC Code Switching, Coupon Fraud, Wire Fraud, ATM Skimming, Receiving Stolen Property, Bank Fraud, Trafficking, Buying/Selling Stolen Goods, Money Laundering, Online Fraud, Receipt Fraud, Skimming, Theft/Selling, Prescription Fraud, Coupon Theft, Retail Theft/Return, Trailer Theft, Food Stamp/EBT Fraud, Refund Fraud, Shipping Theft, Fuel Theft, Money Order Theft

The map below shows which states have seen the most ORC cases in the Daily's second-quarter reporting.
The five states with the highest number of cases were:
1. Florida (30)
2. California (28)
3. Pennsylvania (28)
4. Michigan (25)
5. New York (23).

Four of these states - California, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida - made the top five in the first quarter as well, while Michigan is a new addition. Texas saw a drop in reported ORC cases (from 26 to 16) and didn't fall into second quarter's top five.

Feds: ORC Gang of Five Men Arrested Friday in Large-Scale Fencing Operation in New Haven, CT
A total of 5 men were charged and it's alleged they purchased stolen goods and then sold them online. In some cases shoplifters were used. Five men with ties to New Haven, Branford, East Haven, Stratford, North Haven, and Durham were arrested Friday on federal charges related to two separate, large-scale fencing operations in the New Haven area, federal authorities announced in a news release.

On June 23 a grand jury returned an indictment charging George J. Connelly Jr., 45, of New Haven, Paul William Muzkya, 46, of North Haven and William Reidell, 40, of Branford with one count of conspiracy and multiple counts of interstate transportation of stolen property.

On July 7 a grand jury returned an indictment charging Andrew Sacco, 43, of East Haven and formerly of Durham, and Matthew Harwood, 42, of Stratford and formerly of Durham, with one count of conspiracy and multiple counts of interstate transportation of stolen property. Both indictments were unsealed today, after the suspects were arrested.

The first indictment alleges that Connelly and Muzkya operated a licensed secondhand store, Ace Amusements, in New Haven, Conn.

Connelly and Muzkya are alleged to have knowingly purchased stolen property from "boosters," who typically were shoplifters with opioid addictions, federal authorities said. The boosters stole the goods from retail stores such as Walmart, Home Depot and Kohl's, according to a news release. Connelly and Muzkya then resold the stolen goods at Ace Amusements and online at websites such as eBay and Amazon, officials said. Connelly and Muzkya also sold property to resellers, including Reidell, who then resold the property online using online websites, according to federal authorities.

The second indictment alleges that Sacco and Harwood knowingly purchased stolen property from boosters and then resold the property at online websites, including, eBay and Amazon, usually in the names of family members and associates, the statement reads. Sacco and Harwood are alleged to have rented cars for boosters for trips to steal items for them.

Sacco and Harwood met with boosters to purchase the stolen property at various locations, including at MVP Auto, an auto body shop located at 23 Bernhard Road in North Haven, according to the statement. The charge of interstate transport of stolen property carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and the charge of conspiracy carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.  patch.com

Arrests made in ORC ring involving Tampa Bay area Victoria's Secret, Macy's stores
Four people were arrested in connection with an organized retail theft ring that hit 10 stores from Clearwater to Naples.

The total value of the goods that Lionel Bolden, Quintin Everett, Darren Harrell, and Cedric Sanders are accused of taking stands at more than $35,000, Attorney General Pam Bondi's Office announced Friday. Everett, Harrell and Bolden have been charged with coordinating the activities of others to commit retail theft of more than $3,000, a second-degree felony, and grand theft of more than $300 but less than $5,000, which is a third-degree felony.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said the Everett and Harrell committed the 10 thefts at Champs, Macy's and Victoria's Secret locations in Charlotte, Collier, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. According to the investigation, Sanders took part in seven of those thefts, and Bolden in at least two.

During one theft, the defendants allegedly stole more than $8,000 in merchandise from a Macy's in Clearwater. The thefts worked by having a lookout who might distract employees while others placed merchandise in large Dillard's bags.  bizjournals.com

Dubuque, IA: Hy-Vee employee accused of stealing over $12,000 in gift cards takes plea deal
Nicholas R. Schmitt, 18, entered a guilty plea in Iowa District Court. Nancy Schmitt found six Visa debit gift cards, two Hy-Vee gift cards and one U.S. Bank gift card while cleaning her son's room. The two went to the Hy-Vee store on Feb. 9 to admit the theft. Nicholas Schmitt, a store employee at the time, used a gift card machine to replenish cards 34 times between April 2015 and February 2016, court documents said. Total losses were calculated at $12,830. Nicholas Schmitt originally was charged with first-degree theft. He instead pleaded guilty to second-degree theft. As part of the plea deal, a deferred judgment will be recommended. He also would pay full restitution. thonline.com

Westampton, NJ: Home Depot Thieves hit several store for over $20,000 Westampton Police have arrested two Burlington County men suspected of stealing more than $20,000 worth of items from several Home Depot retail stores in Burlington and Mercer counties. trentonian.com

Pleasant Hills, CA: Four Arrested following Marshall's theft; tied to over $10,000 in stolen goods
On July 14, at about 10:30 AM employees from Marshall's Department Store called police and reported a large scale theft had just occurred. A detailed description of the suspects and their getaway vehicle was provided. Officers located the fleeing vehicle and a short pursuit ensued. The pursuit continued onto local freeways but was terminated when the suspect began driving recklessly. Moments after the pursuit was terminated, the suspect vehicle became disabled, at which time officers arrested the suspects and recovered the stolen property. Further investigation revealed these subjects are part of an organized retail theft ring responsible for stealing merchandise valued at tens of thousands of dollars over the last several months. eastcountytoday.net

3 men wanted for shoplifting $6K worth from an Augusta Walmart
According to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, the suspects took cell phones and Apple iPods valued in excess of $6,000 by concealing them in their clothing. If you have any information about these suspects, call the Richmond County Sheriff's Office at 706-821-1020 or 706-821-1080.  wjbf.com

Santa Monica, CA: Merchandise stolen from Sephora worth nearly $1,500
Santa Monica police officers were dispatched to Sephora regarding a woman who was in custody for theft. The agent saw a woman place several items into her purse and two shopping bags. The woman left the store and was contacted by the agent. The officers were given an itemized receipt of the stolen items, which totaled about $1,491. smdp.com

Okaloosa County, FL: Kohl's employee charged with theft of $300 or more and deactivating an anti-shoplifting device

Jacksonville, FL: Organized retail theft was reported at WalMart, 1311 S. Jackson St. ; an item(s) valued at less than $100 was taken

Houston, TX: 3 charged with Organized Retail Theft; stole $1,200 worth of lumber