Topline:
An alleged ringleader has been charged for an organized retail crime scheme that spanned 21 counties in California and stole an estimated $8 million in beauty products.
The California Department of Justice announced the charges on Friday. It has not yet released the name of the person arrested.
About the charges: Officials say the retail crime scheme took place in 21 different California counties, including Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino. According to authorities, the alleged ringleader recruited young women to steal popular beauty products from Ulta Beauty and other stores that the ringleader would then sell on their Amazon storefront for a fraction of the price.
Who did it? The identity of the alleged ringleader has not been released. The people involved in the scheme were caught on surveillance cameras and also charged. Ulta and Sephora so far have recovered an estimated $400,000 in beauty products.
How big of a problem is retail theft? While the National Retail Federation has sounded the alarm and lawmakers are calling for tougher penalties, many U.S. cities reported lower shoplifting rates in 2022.
