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.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

Why it matters: ILORCA (Illinois Organized Retail Crime Association) represents a novel partnership between retailers and law enforcement to combat rising retail theft in a state uniquely positioned as a logistics hub.

By the numbers:

• Illinois state law sets felony theft at $300
• Chicago has the third highest volume of cargo thefts in 2025
• Nationwide cargo thefts have more than doubled to 338 reports monthly

What's working: ILORCA uses real-time intelligence sharing platform Auror to connect retailers and law enforcement across jurisdictions, helping identify patterns and build stronger cases.

The bottom line: After early policy missteps, Illinois has created a collaborative model with ILORCA that's helping reverse retail crime trends through intelligence sharing, education, and policy reform.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

The big picture

Heritage Grocers Group operates 65+ stores across multiple banners in California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, and Illinois, taking a localized approach to asset protection while leveraging technology and law enforcement partnerships.

Why it matters

Their multi-layered security strategy balances asset protection with customer experience, particularly in diverse communities with varying security needs.

Key insights

• Focus on individual theft rather than organized retail crime
• Strong emphasis on local law enforcement partnerships
• Multi-layered technology approach including surveillance and case management
• Customer-centric security measures with bilingual communication focus

The bottom line

Heritage Grocers Group's success stems from tailoring security strategies to local needs while maintaining consistent technology standards across locations.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

Why it matters: Melissa Wacha, leading asset protection at Meijer, shares insights on fighting retail crime through technology integration and law enforcement partnerships.

Key takeaways:

• Technology integration is crucial: Meijer focuses on creating a "single pane of glass" system to streamline investigations and evidence gathering across multiple software platforms
• Multi-jurisdictional challenges: Coordinating between different law enforcement agencies requires consistent documentation and standardized evidence sharing processes
• Success story: Recently closed a $1M case involving loyalty program fraud, working with Michigan AG's task force and FBI

Emerging threats:

• Digital fraud growing: Omnichannel retail expansion creates new vulnerabilities in:
  • Third-party systems
  • Account takeovers
  • Fraud rule exploitation

The bottom line: Retailers must adapt to both physical and digital threats while strengthening law enforcement partnerships and investing in unified technology solutions.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

The big picture:

Home Depot is taking an aggressive stance against retail crime while prioritizing customer and employee safety.

Notable initiatives:

• Deploying off-duty police officers and patrol cars
• Installing new camera technology and license plate readers
• Building strong relationships with local, state, and federal law enforcement

Key challenges:

• Rising frequency and aggression of retail crime
• Anonymous fencing through peer-to-peer marketplaces

What's next:

Home Depot is supporting legislation to increase accountability and close peer-to-peer marketplace loopholes while continuing to invest in security technology.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

Why it matters:

Vancouver Police Department's innovative approaches to retail crime offer insights into successful public-private partnerships and emerging challenges in retail theft investigation.

The big picture:

• Shifting terminology: Officials are moving away from "shoplifting" terminology as it understates the organized nature of retail crime
• Multi-agency cooperation: Success requires collaboration between retailers, police, and courts
• Technology challenges: Video format compatibility and electronic disclosure systems remain key hurdles

Notable initiatives:

• Business Liaison Officer Program: Facilitates direct communication between police and retailers
• Project Barcode: Targets violent shoplifters and chronic offenders through coordinated operations

Key challenges:

• Rising violence and weapons presence in retail theft incidents
• Coordination with online marketplaces for investigating stolen goods
• Managing complex relationships between unhoused populations, mental health, and organized retail crime

What's next:

Vancouver PD aims to improve technological capabilities and public awareness about retail crime's connection to larger criminal enterprises.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

The big picture: A detailed look into how law enforcement investigates organized retail crime, highlighting the complex web of technology, cross-jurisdictional collaboration, and investigative techniques needed to solve these cases.

Investigation Challenges

• Pattern recognition: Investigators piece together criminal behaviors, including shopping patterns and preferred locations
• Multiple jurisdictions: Cases often span across different states and require coordination between multiple law enforcement agencies
• Technology trail: Investigators must track rideshare records, surveillance footage, and credit card transactions

Key Barriers

• Unreported crimes: Many victims contact banks instead of police, making case-building more difficult
• Retailer hesitancy: Some businesses are reluctant to share information due to reputation concerns

Bottom line: Success in combating organized retail crime requires stronger partnerships between retailers and law enforcement, along with sustained commitment to prosecution.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

Key Takeaway

The Michigan FORCE Team is making significant strides in combating retail crime through multi-jurisdictional operations.

Why it matters

The team's integrated approach, with embedded prosecutors and cross-state collaboration, is creating a replicable model for organized retail crime units.

What's next

The team identified three key needs to expand their impact:

• Additional prosecutors (currently have 2, need 4-5)
• Fiscal analyst for money tracking
• More storage space for seized goods

The bottom line

Despite resource constraints, the Michigan FORCE Team has become a point of contact for multi-state investigations, with their model being adopted by other states like Pennsylvania.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.