SAN BERNARDINO – Police in two major Southern California cities combined efforts to battle a growing concern about organized retail theft in an August 20-21 sting operation that netted 25 arrests.
More importantly, said San Bernardino spokesman, Lt. Paul Williams, the effort not only resulted in arrests for the thefts, but also resulted in uncovering information related to illicit fencing operations. It’s a growing problem, he said.
The Price of Success - Tide detergent is in high demand for shoplifters because of it's value as tradeable of sellable item.
Detectives from the San Bernardino and Riverside police departments, in partnership with Sam’s Club, Sears, Stater Brothers, Target and Walmart, among others, combined with loss prevention agents at those stores to identify those stealing from their respective stores. Local retailers suffer significant financial losses to organized retail crime, said police. Often, stolen products are sold online or other fencing networks, including online operations.
During drug raids, said Williams, detectives often found huge caches of laundry detergent, specifically Tide, including the liquid and pod-like versions of the product. It’s often traded for drugs or sold far below retail prices at open swap meets. Sgt. Travis Walker, of the San Bernardino Police Dept., said one area supermarket chain claimed that each store reported four to six thefts of Tide every week. Each loss is reportedly between $100 to $400. Tide, said police, is easy to shoplift and difficult to trace since it does not have identifying marks, such as serial numbers. Police said Tide bottles, which retail anywhere between $15 and $18, are often sold for $5 cash or $10 worth of marijuana or crack cocaine. Other items on the retail theft hit list, said police, include beauty supplies, allergy medication, baby formula and razors.
Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz is a leader in the Inland Empire Organized Retail Crime Association
Rings often work in three-person groups, including a target, lookout and a mule, often concealing a shopping cart full of items with blankets and walk out of stores without paying for any merchandise.
In 2011, local retailers and police formed The Inland Empire Organized Retail Crime Association to showcase trends on shoplifting activities and share information about suspects. According to a similar organization, the National Retail Federation estimates rings of thieves cost businesses $30 billion annually.
In a two-day sting operation in June, Riverside and San Bernardino police covered 16 retail locations and made 38 arrests – 13 for felonies. Among those arrested included the fences that would have received the stolen goods, said police.
Read More:
The Press Enterprise: Retail Crime: Laundry detergent traded for drugs, cash
Inland Empire Organized Retail Crime Association
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