What to Know
- A multimillion-dollar crime ring sent paid thieves to pharmacies across New Jersey and New York with catalogues of items to steal
- The ring's takedown is being considered the largest of its kind in the U.S. Authorities have seized $3 million worth of stolen merchandise
- They also froze bank accounts affiliated with the ring that held around $4.5 million. Eleven people have been charged so far
A multimillion-dollar crime ring sent paid shoplifters into pharmacies across New Jersey and New York with catalogues of items to steal — and its takedown is being considered the largest of its kind in the U.S., authorities say.
Police officers arresting alleged shoplifters in New Jersey started to notice a trend at the beginning of 2018, Jersey City Police Department’s Deputy Chief of Police Mark Miller said at a press conference Thursday.
Many of the shoplifters told police a man in Jersey City was giving them a catalogue of items — including over-the-counter medications, vitamins and beauty supplies — to go out, shoplift and bring back, at which point they’d receive payment for the items, Miller said.
“They would actually go in, and take a gift bag from the shelves from inside the store, open up the biggest gift bag they could find and just start taking [items] off the shelf,” he said.
When authorities opened up an investigation, they learned the thefts were all part of a “sophisticated” organized retail theft enterprise targeting chain pharmacies like Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS, Duane Reade and Ulta Beauty, Miller said.
The ring had drivers that would load up a car with five to 10 people and bring them to stores throughout New Jersey, Queens and Long Island to shoplift, according to Miller.
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The stolen goods would then be taken to a stock room, where ring members packaged them up and sold them on eBay, he said.
Authorities executed four search warrants on March 21 and seized around $3 million worth of stolen merchandise. They also froze bank accounts affiliated with the ring that held around $4.5 million, according to Miller.
Eleven people have been charged in connection with the ring, and warrants have been issued for other members of the ring, police say.
