18 arrested in Myrtle Beach involved in 'organized retail theft'
Myrtle Beach Police Department charged 18 people, recovered nearly $1,700 in stolen merchandise and seized almost $15,000 in counterfeit goods.
The department said this is part of their operation to curb shoplifting during the holiday season.
MBPD said they hope to "reduce the impact of this crime in our city and identify people involved in organized retail theft."
“Shoplifting is a serious offense that harms our business community and is often related to other serious criminal acts,” said Chief Amy Prock in a statement. “This operation shows the strength of the intelligence sharing among our community members and team members as well as our commitment to partnerships to reduce retail theft and related in crimes in Myrtle Beach.”
People ages 21 to 70, from all across the U.S., were arrested in the shoplifting sting.
Video captured in recent weeks, showing groups of people overwhelming business to steal merchandise, has caused politicians and local officials to call for more enforcement of theft. But industry experts say that shoplifting is not as big of a problem as it may seem. The National Retail Federation estimated that loss from organized retail theft this past year marginally low, or a total of .07% of each sale, though that rate is growing, the Los Angeles Times reports.
