Tri-state shoplifting ring busted, authorities say millions may have been stolen

Law enforcement agencies have busted a major shoplifting ring that authorities estimated may have sold millions of dollars worth of stolen merchandise through six bodegas in Camden, authorities said today.

At a press conference at the Camden County Prosecutor's Office authorities announced they have charged two men and one woman with leading an organized retail theft ring. They also charged eight others with receiving stolen property.

Six bodegas in North Camden served as fronts for the operation, which had been in place since at least 2003.

A network of hundreds of thieves in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware would receive shopping lists from bodega staff, telling them the items to be stolen.

The items -- mostly small personal goods - included teeth whitening strips, razors, Tylenol, baby formula, and beauty creams, particularly Oil of Olay.

Authorities said the alleged shoplifters would go to large retail stores such as BJ's, Target, CVS, Rite-Aid, and Wegman's and steal the items.

The shoplifters, most of whom police said were drug addicts, would receive money in exchange for the items. The thieves would then use the money to buy drugs in Camden, authorities said.

The stolen items were never placed on the bodega shelves. The goods were instead sold to a larger organization, authorities said. An investigation continues into the link between the bodega operations and the larger crime ring.

Today's arrests were the result of a six-month investigation by a number of state and local law enforcement agencies in the tri-state.

The ringleaders charged in the case are: Ariel Bernard, 25, of Camden; Alicia Peralta, 35, from Pennsauken and Domingo Antonio "Tony" Jaquez-Suriel, 33, of Philadelphia. The three were arrested this week.

Raids on several locations were conducted this morning, according to the Camden County prosecutor's office.