5 individuals from the Chicago Area were Among the 8 Caught in a Multistate Retail Stealing Ring

As part of an undercover investigation, Authorities stopped a group of thieves who were stealing from stores from Chicago to California, Wilmette police said.

Police have taken eight people into custody and found evidence and goods worth about $7.5 million that they say were part of a “sophisticated criminal enterprise.”

Wilmette Chief of Police Kyle Murphy Claims

Wilmette Chief of Police Kyle Murphy said that 128 pallets of stolen goods were made up of over-the-counter products, medicine, health care products, and beauty supplies.

“It all started when someone stole from a store in Wilmette,” said Murphy. “An officer asked the right questions and found out where the group was fencing.”

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Last week, police officers in Chicago, Cicero, Oak Lawn, Bolingbrook, and three cities in California carried out 12 search warrants. The police found nearly 300,000 stolen items were found by the police.

Police officers in Chicago, Cicero, Oak Lawn, Bolingbrook, and three cities in California carried out 12 search warrants.

“Over the course of a year, these goods come through these fencing locations and are then moved and sent out,” said Murphy. “So, this is just a small sample of the products that are being looked into over the course of a year.”

The Person Who Did This Took Things Right Off the Shelves

“Eventually, this product was sent to third parties out of state, on the East Coast and on the West Coast. It was then resold on online market places. “

Five of the eight people who were arrested live in the Chicago area, while the other three live in California.

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The locals will be sent to Illinois to face charges there.

Law enforcement used what happened to remind people to be careful when buying things.

“There is a market for this, which is why these things are being stolen and sold again,” said Murphy. “As a consumer, you should only buy these products from well-known big-box stores and stay away from online marketplaces.”

On Oct. 26, the local people who were part of the group that stole from stores will go to court.