Get Our Email Newsletter

Arrests Made in ‘Brilliant’ Multi-Million Dollar ORC Spree

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the takedown of a multi-state and multi-million dollar Walmart theft operation Friday.

The retail theft operation involved making fraudulent returns on Walmart televisions in exchange for cash. The organized crime spree resulted in $3.6 million of loses to the retail giant since 2014.

Between just August 2019 and March 2020, investigators with the Polk County Organized Retail Crime Unit discovered over $300,000 in loses countrywide — including $174,500 in Florida and $3,500 in Polk County.

- Digital Partner -

“These aren’t petty shoplifters, these are criminals,” Judd said.

So far, two suspects have been arrested, one has died of natural causes, and two are still at large.

In Florida, Judd said the suspects hit Walmart stores in 39 different counties, including Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota.

Judd said he couldn’t go into too much detail about the scheme the suspects devised, because he “doesn’t want to train” future criminals. He did reveal, however, that the suspects would purchase large, expensive televisions from Walmart for cash, replace the TV in the box with a salvaged TV, return them to the store for cash, and re-sell the new (stolen) televisions.

Judd said they were caught after investigation revealed the serial number on the TV’s menu guide didn’t match the serial number marked on the outside of the TV and box… InformNY.com

LP Solutions

 

Loss Prevention Magazine updates delivered to your inbox

Get the free daily newsletter read by thousands of loss prevention professionals, security, and retail management from the store level to the c-suite.

What's New

Digital Partners

Become a Digital Partner

Violence in the Workplace

Download this 34-page special report from Loss Prevention Magazine about types and frequency of violent incidents, impacts on employees and customers, effectiveness of tools and training, and much more.

Webinars

View All | Sponsor a Webinar

Whitepapers

View All | Submit a Whitepaper

LP Solutions

View All | Submit Your Content

Loss Prevention Media Logo

Stay up-to-date with our free email newsletter

The trusted newsletter for loss prevention professionals, security and retail management. Get the latest news, best practices, technology updates, management tips, career opportunities and more.

No, thank you.

View our privacy policy.