Dozens Arrested in Retail Crime Ring Bust

The world is pretty sad when people start stealing from needy kids.  Where's an armed guard when you need one?

"An organized crime ring that preyed on needy children and unsuspecting retail stores has been broken up, according to Maricopa County (Arizona) Attorney Bill Montgomery.

Montgomery said that "It was an effort over several months to repeatedly steal items from retail merchants."  Dozens of people were recruited to shoplift items from major retails stores such as Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowes across the Phoenix area, then return the items at a different location for store credit.  The "mastermind" would then take the store credit cards and resale them on Ebay at a discount price.

An Ebay employee noticed the large number of store cards being sold by one person and notified the local police department.  During the ensuing investigation, some of the suspects were spotted stealing donated toys from the Angel Tree Foundation, then returning those items for store credit as well.

So far, authorities have arrested 36 people."

Excerpts from Phoenix News article
February 25, 2011