Organized retail crime remains a serious problem for retailers across the country and around the world. Every day, there are countless stories about criminal enterprises victimizing stores, threatening the safety of customers and employees, and the very fabric of the retail industry. To give you a better feel for the vast impact of the problem, we have provided a glimpse into just a few of the incidents that took place in the month of June 2025.
Inaugural National ORC Blitz Underscores the Power of Partnerships
This month’s ORC highlights were dominated by the national ORC Blitz initiative. Spearheaded by the Cook County Regional Organized Crime Task Force (CCROC) and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in the Chicago market, a nationwide crackdown on organized retail crime, or “National ORC Blitz,” was implemented on May 30th and continued through the first week of June. A coordinated effort that took weeks to plan, the operation was also supported by the Retail Industry Leader’s Association (RILA), the National District Attorneys’ Association (NDAA), and Organized Retail Crime Associations (ORCAs) across the country through the ORCAs in Action initiative. Similar activities took place throughout the month and across the nation.
$1M in Merchandise Recovered in North Texas Organized Retail Theft Arrests
Two North Texans have been arrested and charged in an organized retail theft bust involving multiple police departments and law enforcement agencies. The arrests came as the result of a collaborative investigation targeting organized retail theft in Denton County. Police seized $636,000 and recovered an estimated $1 million in stolen merchandise. Texas DPS worked with the Allen Police Department (PD), the Irving PD, the Oak Point PD, the Plano PD, the Denton County Sheriff’s Office, and retailers for the operation. The recovered merchandise included a variety of items from workout gear to electronics.
Chicago Man Faces Felony after $400,000 in Stolen Merchandise Recovered
A Chicago man is facing felony theft charges after the Sheriff’s Police Organized Retail Crime Unit recovered approximately $400,000 in stolen fitness equipment and other goods taken during area cargo thefts. An investigation began after learning that fitness equipment taken during a cargo theft in Joliet was being sold by an individual on Facebook Marketplace. After identifying the seller, undercover ORC investigators purchased multiple pieces of fitness equipment from him over the course of several weeks at a storefront in Chicago and at a storage unit he controlled. Police executed search warrants at the storefront and storage unit, where they recovered approximately $400,000 in fitness equipment, gloves, and other items.
Florida Attorney General Announces 44 Arrests in Suspected Retail Theft Ring
Florida authorities have arrested 44 individuals, including three undocumented immigrants, as part of a nationwide crackdown on organized retail theft. The multi-agency effort recovered more than $207,000 in stolen goods across the state, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. The operation was part of a coordinated national retail theft blitz that targeted criminal networks responsible for large-scale shoplifting and organized retail crimes. In Florida, the initiative was carried out with the support of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Florida Organized Retail Crime Exchange (FORCE), a statewide intelligence-sharing network created to combat organized retail theft.
Two Arrested in Portland Retail Theft Ring Bust, $100K in Goods Recovered
Two individuals have been arrested in connection with an organized retail theft operation that has plagued businesses in Portland and along the I-5 corridor. Authorities recovered 25 pieces of suspected stolen merchandise, many still bearing EAS security tags, traced back to multiple high-end retail stores. The arrests followed a comprehensive, months-long investigation involving the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Organized Retail Theft Task Force, the Oregon Department of Justice, and retail loss prevention professionals with the Organized Retail Theft Association of Oregon.
Man Accused of Stealing More Than 1,000 Items from Amazon Warehouse
The Boise Police have arrested a man accused of stealing more than $86,000 worth of merchandise from an Amazon distribution center. Police accuse the suspect, who worked as a third-party delivery driver, of delivering only some of the packages he was hired to deliver. He is believed to have removed more than 1,000 items from deliveries he was meant to take to the US Postal Service for distribution valued at more than $86,000. BPD investigators searched his residence, an associated residence, his vehicle, and a storage unit. The search turned up hundreds of packages and boxes, along with a warehouse pallet. Police say he was selling the merchandise on social media or through online auctions.
Operation Pit Stain: Trio Arrested in $50,000 Toiletry Theft Ring in Northern California
Roseville police say thieves accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of deodorant and other hygiene products from stores across Northern California were arrested in the San Francisco Bay Area. The thieves are accused of stealing more than $15,000 worth of deodorant alone from Safeway and CVS stores across Roseville. Investigators say the two main suspects also hit other stores throughout Northern California for deodorant and other toiletries, then sold them to a third individual, who knowingly purchased the stolen items and resold them at Bay Area flea markets. In total, around $50,000 worth of stolen products—deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, and more—were recovered by investigators.
Counterfeit Goods
2 Nights, 5 Shipments, Over $25M in Counterfeit Jewelry
US Customs and Border Protection officers in Louisville seized five shipments containing a total of almost 2,200 pieces of counterfeit jewelry. The first shipment arrived from China, where officers seized 318 bracelets for bearing unauthorized versions of Cartier trademarks. Later in the night, CBP seized another shipment, this one arriving from Hong Kong and containing more inauthentic jewelry, specifically 490 necklaces, 205 pairs of earrings, and 80 rings, bearing unauthorized trademarks owned by Van Cleef and Arpels. The next night officers seized three shipments all containing inauthentic Cartier bracelets, 800 in total. All of these shipments came from China. The 2,193 items were deemed to bear counterfeit marks by CBP’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise, the agency’s trade experts. Had these goods been genuine, the five shipments would have had a combined Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of over $25.32 million.
Pittsburgh CBP Officers Seize $573k in Knockoff Rolex Watches and Luxury Brand Name Sunglasses
US Customs and Border Protection officers seized 13 counterfeit Rolex watches and 12 pairs of designer brand sunglasses in Pittsburgh. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the shipment was valued at $573,200, had the products been authentic. CBP officers initially inspected the shipment after it arrived from the United Arab Emirates. The shipment was destined for a Pittsburgh address and manifested as “Empty Poly Bag Ladies Hand Bag.” Instead, the shipment contained six Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust models, five Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona models, and two Rolex Diamond Iced-Out models, and sunglasses bearing Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Miu Miu, and Valentino brand names.
Greenville Business Owner Charged with Identity Fraud, Drugs, and Counterfeit Goods
A Greenville, South Carolina business owner is facing nearly a dozen charges after an identity fraud investigation led to the discovery of drugs and counterfeit goods. Warrants were obtained for the husband and wife after investigators discovered the suspect allegedly obtained multiple victims’ IDs and financial information to fraudulently purchase items. Authorities executed search warrants on the couple’s home, where authorities found a large amount of counterfeit merchandise valued at over $100,000, and two electric dirt bikes. Arrest warrants say 148 pounds of marijuana and a pound of psilocybin mushrooms were also found.
Electronics Shop Owner Busted After Selling Hundreds of Counterfeit Apple Products
Authorities in Essex County have charged a New Jersey electronics store owner with selling more than 100 counterfeit Apple products. Seized items often include imitation iPhones, AirPods, charging cables, or adapters that mimic Apple’s retail packaging. Officials haven’t yet released the name of the store or listed the specific devices.
For Those Interested in Learning More
June was a busy month for those involved in organized retail crime. For those interested in learning more, here are some of the additional incidents that took place. Click on the links to explore some of these events:
Chicago’s ORC Task Force Secures Charges Against Offender Wanted in Multiple States
The Chicago Police Department’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force secured charges against a 22-year-old offender who stole more than $43,000 worth of merchandise. With assistance from the victimized businesses, detectives learned this suspect was wanted in similar thefts throughout the country.
2 Suspects in Retail Theft Ring Accused of Stealing $30k Worth of Baby Formula to Resell
Two suspects in an organized retail theft ring were arrested after allegedly stealing $30,000 worth of baby formula to resell on the black market. Multiple suspects are accused of stealing the formula from several stores in Utah, Nevada, and California. The suspects would then sell the formula in California and Mexico.
Scent Trail Ends in Arrests After $32K Organized Candle Theft Spree
Detectives from the Fairfax County Criminal Investigations Division have charged three suspects for their involvement in a series of organized retail thefts targeting candles. Detectives linked the suspects to multiple coordinated thefts. At least 15 incidents have been identified totaling more than $32,000.
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