Eighteen defendants have been charged with felonies over a six-month wave of high-impact thefts spanning multiple retailers, based on surveillance footage and linked to a coordinated effort to curb organized retail crime.

Prosecutors say the group conducted about 80 larcenies totaling over $110,000 in losses, with several suspects facing Robbery in the Second Degree for allegedly using force.

Authorities describe a rising trend in organized retail crime and emphasize ongoing efforts and need for continued action.

Local law enforcement and federal partners highlight declines in shoplifting and strong collaboration with retailers, law enforcement, and prosecutors.

Retailers report organized theft targets popular high-demand items for easy resale on online platforms, contributing to higher prices and potential store closures.

Investigators describe the theft ring as highly organized, with spotters and warehouse-like operations, happening at outlets like Home Depot about every five minutes.

The Retail Protection Partnership enables prosecutors, retailers, and law enforcement to identify and arrest serial, high-impact shoplifters across major retailers including Home Depot, Walmart, Target, Macy’s, CVS, and Walgreens.

The DA’s office invites additional Long Island retailers to join the Retail Protection Partnership to expand crackdown on organized retail theft.

Historical data show thefts trending downward, with 6,041 larcenies in 2024, 5,774 in 2025, and 1,950 year-to-date in 2026, with a projected annual total around 4,800.

Prosecutors allege the suspects are professional thieves who treat stores as warehouses, repeatedly targeting locations such as Suffolk County Home Depot shops.

Key innovations include aggregating multiple misdemeanor offenses into felonies and using Trespass Notices to bar offenders from stores, with potential burglary charges if they re-enter.

Officials stress the thefts are driven by organized greed, not need, and note the broader impact on stores, consumers, and communities through higher prices and increased security.