Nationwide retail crime crackdown leads to over 400 arrests: One of the largest and most visible efforts

Police departments around the country launched a crackdown on the post-pandemic scourge of organized retail theft — making more than 400 arrests, law enforcement officials told The Post on Wednesday.The coordinated nationwide blitz included help from major chains — including Home Depot, Walgreens, Ulta Beauty, Target, Meijer, Kroger and lululemon — that have seen their bottom lines squeezed by the rampant lawlessness.The clampdown, conducted last week, spanned 28 states and was led by the organized crime task force in Illinois’ Cook County, with support from the Retail Industry Leaders Association and the National District Attorneys Association.“This coordinated crackdown is one of the largest and most visible efforts we’ve seen to date in combating organized retail crime and it’s long overdue,” said Gene Petrino, a retired SWAT commander and owner of Survival Response, which helps companies train employees to deal with workplace violence.“These crimes aren’t just petty theft – they’re highly structured operations that fund broader criminal activity, and they’ve had a devastating impact on retailers, employees and consumers across the country.”In one such incident, a California mother-of-three, Michelle Mack, ran a crime ring dubbed “California Girls” that looted an estimated $8 million worth of cosmetics and beauty products from Ulta and Sephora stores.She was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay $3 million in restitution.

The organized thefts forced many drugstores to lock away basic staples, which led to a drop in sales as frustrated customers were turned off by the anti-theft tactics.These crime rings are “one of the most significant challenges in our industry,” Marty Maloney, Walgreens’ director of media relations, told The Post.The chain worked with law enforcement partners at more than 40 locations across 20 cities last week, Maloney said.Ulta had teams stationed across nine states, passing along informa...