Latest news with #retailcrime
RNZ News
7 hours ago
- RNZ News
Retail NZ on shoplifting complaints not investigated by police
Retail New Zealand says the almost 5500 shoplifting complaints that were never investigated by police shows that retail crime is still a significant problem. Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
10 hours ago
- RNZ News
Retail NZ says members will be 'devastated' by theft incidents not being investigated
Retail New Zealand chief executive Carolyn Young. Photo: Supplied Retail New Zealand says its members will be devastated that while police were directed not to investigate reports of shoplifting below $500, retailers reported almost 5500 incidents of shoplifting that fell into that category. As a result, they were never investigated. The shoplifting complaints were made between March and May this year while the police directive was in place not to investigate reports of shoplifting valued at below $500. Other crimes police were directed not to investigate included general thefts of below $200, petrol drive offs, $150, online fraud and scams of under $1000 and other fraud, $500. But after RNZ reported the directive it was walked back by Police Commissioner Richard Chambers who launched a review to establish how many reports of retail crime were filed away under the controversial directive. That figure has been revealed by RNZ as 5454. Retail New Zealand chief executive Carolyn Young said shop owners were disappointed at the number. "I'm sure they're absolutely devastated that the impact that's happened in their store has not had any follow up and we know from our research that our members have told us that 40 percent of retail crime is not reported and one of the reasons they give is 'cos they think nothing will happen. "So if there was 5400-odd incidents in that two month period, add another 40 percent on and you're probably at the right level of what was occurring. "It just reiterates how big a crime issue is when you say that's the level below $500." She said it was a systemic problem with a devastating impact on the retail system. Young said while it was disappointing when retail crime was not followed up, Retail NZ understood it came down to resourcing. "Whilst we are always really disappointed that the police are unable to follow up on every incident that occurs, we know that one of the principle problems that we've got is resourcing and we just need more police." Young said shoplifting was often repeated by the same offenders and when police didn't investigate the cumulative harm was greater. "One of the things that we know is there is a lot of small level offending. You think about drive-offs at the petrol station - invariably that's under $500 but someone offends five or six times, it's a significant amount of money." "And when you have people that are offending in a supermarket or an apparel store three or four times a week the cumulative factor of that adds up and so the dollar value is not the material piece. "It's actually what harm is that individual doing and how often are they offending and how can we stop that individual person." She said the Police Commissioner had acted swiftly and made a commitment to combating retail crime and Retail NZ was working closely with the police on it. Retail Crime Ministerial Advisory Group chairperson Sunny Kaushal called the number of uninvestigated shoplifting complaints "a shocking figure". "That's why it was so important that Commissioner Chambers responded so quickly to our call for it to be reversed at the earliest opportunity." He said the directive was clearly having an impact on investigations. "Shoplifting is costing New Zealand $1.4 billion a year, and the bill is being paid by every hard working Kiwi through increased prices at the till. "Shoplifting of any value is not okay. Offenders need to know that police will investigate any and all cases reported to them." He also said the Police Commissioner planned to make retail crime a key priority for police. "Retailers are now seeing the benefit of this change in priority, especially in areas that now have a dedicated retail crime team. "I encourage police to scale these efforts so that every area across the country can benefit from the great work of those teams." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Arizona duo allegedly sold stolen goods out of their living room — why what seems like a steal of a deal could cost you
Nephtali Santiago-Garcia and Yuli "Nissy" Esther Degante Vigueras must have had a house that smelled pretty good recently. That's because the couple had an estimated $355,000 worth of Bath & Body Works products stashed on their property. The two individuals involved weren't just really (really) into candles and lotions, of course. They were part of an intricate theft operation, involving a Bath & Body Works delivery driver and an organized retail theft ring that was stealing merchandise to the couple to illegally resell. "Their living room was set up like a retail store," the Phoenix Police shared in a news conference. "You were invited to shop around. When you made a purchase, they went so far as to wrap it up in a Bath & Body Works paper shopping bag just like you would have at a real store,' adding, 'None of it was legitimate." Here's how the theft ring operated, along with some advice for customers who want to avoid inadvertently participating in a similar illegal scheme. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) You don't have to be a millionaire to gain access to this $1B private real estate fund. In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here's how Large-scale retail theft ring Police came across Santiago-Garcia and Degante-Vigueras after a long investigation that began in 2023, following a tip from a loss prevention department at an Arizona Bath & Body Works. According to that tip, criminals were coming into their store and clearing out the shelves in a matter of a few minutes. "When it is scaring customers, employees are running for the back type of thing, you realize that this is a serious thing," police officials said. In total, criminals ended up stealing over $160,000 in merchandise from stores in Arizona, Texas and Nevada — and police found they were selling most of this stuff to the husband-and-wife team, who lived in Glendale. While the couple is accused of trafficking a large amount of their merchandise from the robbers, they also teamed up with Marcos Ortega-Hernandez, a delivery driver, who was paid more than $72,000 to provide the couple with products instead of delivering them to the stores where the items were intended to go. The couple set up a storefront in their living room and would hold garage sales every weekend, where he would have tables of stolen merchandise to sell and advertising on OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace and TikTok. Fortunately, police were able to unravel the scheme and arrest the couple, along with the crew members and a number of other people accused of physically stealing the goods. The couple and the delivery driver are facing charges including fraud, illegal control of an enterprise and trafficking stolen property. And the impact extends beyond a financial hit to the company's bottom line. 'It is a part of a much bigger problem. It affects prices, public safety and the health of our local economies,' officials said. The Arizona police are actively investigating other retail crime operations in the area. 'So you can either go out there and make an honest living, or you can keep looking over your shoulder wondering if your name is next on our list,' cautioned a spokesperson for the Phoenix Police. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it What happens if you buy stolen goods? Santiago-Garcia and Degante-Vigueras were making profit selling their stolen merchandise, which means there were customers who may have been participating in the scheme. But, the big question is, would those buyers have known the items were stolen and, if so, what happens to people who knowingly buy stolen property? Under Arizona law, buying or possessing stolen property is a crime. According to Criminal Code 13-2305 you could be charged with a criminal offense if: You have property in your possession that was recently stolen and don't have a good explanation for how you got it. You purchased stolen property at a rate that's much lower than what the items normally cost and you don't have a good reason for why you paid so little. You bought stolen property in a way that's outside of the regular course of business without a valid explanation. Many other states also have similar laws. Based on these laws, people who went into the home of this Glendale couple and brought products could very likely be charged, as this transaction was definitely out of the ordinary course of business and as most people don't have Bath & Body Works stores in their homes. Of course, no one wants a criminal record and especially not for buying scented body lotion — or similar relatively inexpensive personal items. To avoid unwitting participating in a similar scheme: Don't buy goods from sellers you don't know, or whose reputation you can't verify Request that a seller provide proof they own an item legitimately before you buy it Be cautious if a deal seems too good to be true Avoid situations that are out-of-the-ordinary pathways to ownership, such as buying Bath & Body works from someone's living room While a cheap candle, home fragrance, or other item at a rock bottom price may seem tempting, taking these steps to help you avoid buying stolen goods ensures you won't unintentionally support a criminal enterprise — or end up with a criminal record yourself. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Accredited investors can now buy into this $22 trillion asset class once reserved for elites – and become the landlord of Walmart, Whole Foods or Kroger without lifting a finger. Here's how Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Arizona duo allegedly sold stolen goods out of their living room — why what seems like a steal of a deal could cost you
Nephtali Santiago-Garcia and Yuli "Nissy" Esther Degante Vigueras must have had a house that smelled pretty good recently. That's because the couple had an estimated $355,000 worth of Bath & Body Works products stashed on their property. The two individuals involved weren't just really (really) into candles and lotions, of course. They were part of an intricate theft operation, involving a Bath & Body Works delivery driver and an organized retail theft ring that was stealing merchandise to the couple to illegally resell. "Their living room was set up like a retail store," the Phoenix Police shared in a news conference. "You were invited to shop around. When you made a purchase, they went so far as to wrap it up in a Bath & Body Works paper shopping bag just like you would have at a real store,' adding, 'None of it was legitimate." Here's how the theft ring operated, along with some advice for customers who want to avoid inadvertently participating in a similar illegal scheme. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) You don't have to be a millionaire to gain access to this $1B private real estate fund. In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here's how Large-scale retail theft ring Police came across Santiago-Garcia and Degante-Vigueras after a long investigation that began in 2023, following a tip from a loss prevention department at an Arizona Bath & Body Works. According to that tip, criminals were coming into their store and clearing out the shelves in a matter of a few minutes. "When it is scaring customers, employees are running for the back type of thing, you realize that this is a serious thing," police officials said. In total, criminals ended up stealing over $160,000 in merchandise from stores in Arizona, Texas and Nevada — and police found they were selling most of this stuff to the husband-and-wife team, who lived in Glendale. While the couple is accused of trafficking a large amount of their merchandise from the robbers, they also teamed up with Marcos Ortega-Hernandez, a delivery driver, who was paid more than $72,000 to provide the couple with products instead of delivering them to the stores where the items were intended to go. The couple set up a storefront in their living room and would hold garage sales every weekend, where he would have tables of stolen merchandise to sell and advertising on OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace and TikTok. Fortunately, police were able to unravel the scheme and arrest the couple, along with the crew members and a number of other people accused of physically stealing the goods. The couple and the delivery driver are facing charges including fraud, illegal control of an enterprise and trafficking stolen property. And the impact extends beyond a financial hit to the company's bottom line. 'It is a part of a much bigger problem. It affects prices, public safety and the health of our local economies,' officials said. The Arizona police are actively investigating other retail crime operations in the area. 'So you can either go out there and make an honest living, or you can keep looking over your shoulder wondering if your name is next on our list,' cautioned a spokesperson for the Phoenix Police. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it What happens if you buy stolen goods? Santiago-Garcia and Degante-Vigueras were making profit selling their stolen merchandise, which means there were customers who may have been participating in the scheme. But, the big question is, would those buyers have known the items were stolen and, if so, what happens to people who knowingly buy stolen property? Under Arizona law, buying or possessing stolen property is a crime. According to Criminal Code 13-2305 you could be charged with a criminal offense if: You have property in your possession that was recently stolen and don't have a good explanation for how you got it. You purchased stolen property at a rate that's much lower than what the items normally cost and you don't have a good reason for why you paid so little. You bought stolen property in a way that's outside of the regular course of business without a valid explanation. Many other states also have similar laws. Based on these laws, people who went into the home of this Glendale couple and brought products could very likely be charged, as this transaction was definitely out of the ordinary course of business and as most people don't have Bath & Body Works stores in their homes. Of course, no one wants a criminal record and especially not for buying scented body lotion — or similar relatively inexpensive personal items. To avoid unwitting participating in a similar scheme: Don't buy goods from sellers you don't know, or whose reputation you can't verify Request that a seller provide proof they own an item legitimately before you buy it Be cautious if a deal seems too good to be true Avoid situations that are out-of-the-ordinary pathways to ownership, such as buying Bath & Body works from someone's living room While a cheap candle, home fragrance, or other item at a rock bottom price may seem tempting, taking these steps to help you avoid buying stolen goods ensures you won't unintentionally support a criminal enterprise — or end up with a criminal record yourself. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Accredited investors can now buy into this $22 trillion asset class once reserved for elites – and become the landlord of Walmart, Whole Foods or Kroger without lifting a finger. Here's how Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
CTV News
5 days ago
- CTV News
2 women wanted in distraction theft stole $13K worth of goods from Toronto store: police
Toronto police are searching for two suspects they allege stole items worth $13,000 from a Toronto store after distracting an employee. (Toronto Police Service handout) Toronto police say they are searching for two women who allegedly stole more than $10,000 worth of goods from a store in Toronto's west end earlier this month. According to police, two suspects walked into a retail store in the area of Queen Street West and Ossington Avenue at around 1:30 p.m. on July 15. While inside, police allege, the suspects distracted a store employee while they stole approximately $13,000 worth of items. Police say they have now identified the two suspects wanted in connection with the theft. Police say two Toronto women, 55-year-old Veta Caldarar and 35-year-old Flori Ciurar, are wanted for theft over $5,000 and failing to comply with a probation order. Investigators are asking anyone with information about the suspects to call police at 416-808-4100 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
