Cracking a Nationwide Retail Theft Operation: A Detective's Story

In this episode of Retail's Most Wanted, Detective Roland Burk of the Orem Police Department reveals how a Monday morning email led to breaking a major ORC case spanning multiple states with over $100,000 in stolen merchandise.

Why it matters

This case demonstrates how information sharing between law enforcement agencies across state lines can successfully disrupt organized retail crime operations that target multiple locations.

The big picture

• A BOLO (Be On the Lookout) alert from Michigan connected suspects to similar thefts in Utah

• The crew used specialized backpacks with metal lining to defeat security sensors

• License plate readers helped track the suspects' movements across state lines

• Video surveillance provided crucial evidence linking the cases

Go deeper

Detective Burk's investigation found that seemingly isolated incidents were part of a sophisticated operation with merchandise intended for resale in Mexico.

This episode highlights the importance of retailers maintaining quality surveillance systems and participating in information-sharing networks to combat organized retail crime effectively.