Shoplifting Groups Didn’t Realize They’d Already Been Caught

Added: 2026-05-30

[00:00:00]She had these.

[00:00:01]>> All you guys are together is all together. Yeah. Oh, what the what the hell is this?

[00:00:08]>> All three of you. Stop. Stop. Stop.

[00:00:09]Stop. Stop.

[00:00:10]>> Come to me right now. Eddie.

[00:00:13]>> These shoplifting crews thought staying calm and confident would help them walk away unnoticed until undercover officers stepped in and their own arrogance turned a perfect plan into criminal charges. Watch these professional shoplifting crews get caught red-handed.

[00:00:30]Give us a like and subscribe if you want to see more content like this.

[00:00:37]>> Starting with a family shoplifting trip.

[00:00:40]>> Are you his mother?

[00:00:41]>> Yes.

[00:00:41]>> Okay. Y'all were all together. No. No.

[00:00:44]No. That's what she was doing.

[00:00:45]>> On August 7th, 2025, officers were dispatched to J. Penney after reports of a group suspected of organized shoplifting. From the moment officers approached them, the nervous behavior and conflicting explanations from each individual quickly convinced police this was far more than an ordinary shoplifting case.

[00:01:05]>> Hey, what's Did you guys call?

[00:01:08]>> Yep.

[00:01:10]>> H.

[00:01:11]>> It's going to be one two more coming.

[00:01:13]>> Do you have your ID on you, ma'am?

[00:01:16]>> I just had that other stuff you had in your hand.

[00:01:18]>> Okay. So, >> I just had my shirt.

[00:01:21]>> And you had this fashion jewelry as well? I had one of them. I mean, I'll give it to you. Yes, ma'am.

[00:01:29]>> Come on. Can you put your phone down?

[00:01:32]>> Say I asked you a question. Can you put your phone down?

[00:01:34]>> You have your ID on you?

[00:01:36]>> He don't have no ID. He claim he's a minor, which doesn't matter. At this point, he will be prosecuted as well.

[00:01:40]They all in cahoot. So, >> are one of you ladies his mother, >> ma'am?

[00:01:46]>> Huh?

[00:01:46]>> Okay. Are you his mother?

[00:01:48]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:01:48]>> Okay.

[00:01:50]>> You have your ID as well?

[00:01:51]>> No. I got you. I'll get back to >> you.

[00:01:59]Jesus.

[00:02:01]>> No, I need to call my boyfriend though.

[00:02:03]>> Well, you could do that after we handle guys going.

[00:02:09]>> The situation quickly became tense as the group tried separating themselves from the responsibility. Even the teenage boy with them showed an uncooperative attitude, making the investigation anything but smooth.

[00:02:23]>> Have a seat.

[00:02:27]>> Yeah, I'll give it back to you.

[00:02:33]>> She had these.

[00:02:34]>> All you guys are together is all together >> and there's like a shoplifting group. Is everybody everybody Yeah, but I don't want to be tough for something I ain't even trying to get.

[00:02:47]>> Yeah, y'all were all together.

[00:02:49]>> No, what she was doing and I want to say >> I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about what I had on me.

[00:02:54]>> I had on that church had one ring in my hand with my Where did he get off the purse?

[00:03:00]>> No, no, no, no, no. I had one ring and >> You're trying to say he took it off the shelf himself?

[00:03:04]>> No, I ain't saying that.

[00:03:05]>> So, where did he take it from?

[00:03:06]>> I don't know. He get from off the off the table when I put it on the table.

[00:03:09]>> Yeah, when you put on the table.

[00:03:10]>> Yeah, but I only had the shirt. Go ahead. Just lay. It's good. I ain't trying. If I trying to go home, get my stuff.

[00:03:17]Ain't >> that serious?

[00:03:19]>> You sound nasty.

[00:03:20]>> I'm not being nasty to you.

[00:03:22]>> I'm just saying I've been respectful to all y'all.

[00:03:24]>> I know. I know.

[00:03:25]>> You want to be honest? I've been with respectful to all y'all. I got that gratitude back.

[00:03:28]>> Yeah. Yeah. You didn't I ain't got nothing. I gave you my name and what?

[00:03:31]That was it.

[00:03:32]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:03:33]>> I don't got no reason to love y'all.

[00:03:35]None at all.

[00:03:37]>> But I like you said, I am putting it all together. It's going to be one value splitting the difference between the two. I'm just saying that's how it works. I was just trying to explain that that's how these things >> I was aware. I just want to make sure >> No, I was letting them know. So they didn't think you were, you know, doing something >> doing that.

[00:03:55]>> And how did you um guys get up here? Was it in a car, bus, or >> I drive?

[00:04:02]>> Okay. Despite claiming she was cooperating, the woman became visibly uncomfortable after learning the stolen merchandise would be counted together as one total. However, the group's conflicting stories soon exposed their possible involvement in previous shoplifting cases.

[00:04:18]>> Any of you guys been banned from here before?

[00:04:20]>> About 5 years ago.

[00:04:22]>> Was it a permanent ban?

[00:04:24]>> No. Y'all still could have gone to the mall? I don't know. It was like five 5 years ago.

[00:04:29]>> What they what they bang you for? I think Miss Chopper.

[00:04:34]>> What store was it?

[00:04:37]>> It wasn't J C Penney, was it?

[00:04:39]>> I'm not sure.

[00:04:45]>> Anyone else?

[00:04:46]>> Okay.

[00:04:47]>> Can you walk me out on the signal 91?

[00:04:50]>> Can't remember. Not long.

[00:04:52]>> How many?

[00:04:52]>> Not that many times. Yeah, >> about two. About two times.

[00:04:55]>> Two, three times. You got somewhere.

[00:04:57]>> Georgia is three strikes.

[00:04:59]>> It's an automatic felon. Damn.

[00:05:02]>> You have to wait. Work it out when that time come. All I can think is >> y was y'all boosters or y'all >> No, it just that me her and him was just sitting out talking.

[00:05:14]>> Yeah.

[00:05:14]>> And I ride to the to the mall >> and we had school even come here. We had school went to the shoe show.

[00:05:20]>> Yeah.

[00:05:22]>> They going to jail for >> probably. I didn't get the amount yet, but they are prosecuting. thing is is that they had the 17 year old or I think he's 17. He's going to 08 with him.

[00:05:33]>> Yeah.

[00:05:34]>> So, it's two adult females and the 17 year old all like shoplifting together.

[00:05:39]>> Oh, wow.

[00:05:39]>> So, they have brought their kid with them.

[00:05:41]>> That's their kid.

[00:05:43]>> Well, it's one of the ladies kid.

[00:05:47]>> You said what?

[00:05:48]>> Who is basically prostituting?

[00:05:50]>> All of them.

[00:05:52]>> Um, can you guys check her to see if she's still banned?

[00:05:57]Yeah. Oh, >> they wasn't sure like how long she was banned for him. If it was a permanent phone everyone banned in 2020 for 3 years for so just so I know this two of them were actually stopped up and the other one were lookout.

[00:06:14]>> That's what I got so far. Why is she not popping up?

[00:06:18]>> See, I don't like this a crime. As everyone began realizing this case might go far beyond an ordinary shoplifting charge, the investigation soon uncovered details that made the group's situation look even worse.

[00:06:32]>> Sorry to stop the first while the dude was just >> So the thing is is that with the juvenile, we have to call that in to see if they're willing to take him.

[00:06:43]>> No, he don't go to RDC. He go to big boy jail. Oh, even before the Oh, banned in January of 2020.

[00:06:53]>> Yeah, they just came back and said that she's good. I think they said it was a three-year ban.

[00:06:58]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:07:00]>> You go to big boy jail. Like we told that person that there's three. You turn 17 for certain laws, you go to big boy jail. This is one of them.

[00:07:07]>> Okay.

[00:07:08]>> Does she have a prior record?

[00:07:12]>> Well, one of them do. She said she's already been >> um twice for shoplifting.

[00:07:20]>> So when she got high that last time in 2020, the amount was 800 and some odd dollars.

[00:07:28]>> So I wonder how much this one is.

[00:07:31]>> How much?

[00:07:35]>> Okay.

[00:07:38]>> Okay. While officers continued confirming the total value of the stolen merchandise, the suspects were taken into custody and prepared for transport to jail. Seeing three generations tied to the same shoplifting case was enough to leave even officers shaking their heads.

[00:07:57]>> All right, stand up.

[00:08:02]>> Right. Put your hands together like you're praying or whichever way is more comfortable. I had surgery on their own.

[00:08:08]Okay.

[00:08:11]Have a seat.

[00:08:15]Be careful. All right.

[00:08:18]>> I don't want you to fall.

[00:08:19]>> I trying to get in. Okay. Hold on a second.

[00:08:27]>> So, we just shot.

[00:08:29]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:08:31]Right. Hands right.

[00:08:34]Ma'am, stand up.

[00:08:40]46 traffic.

[00:08:48]Watch out for the seat belt. I'mma get this right.

[00:09:02]>> You got more cups.

[00:09:05]Why you do that?

[00:09:08]>> Get a photo of me.

[00:09:10]>> Wait, sir. Stand up.

[00:09:12]>> Okay. Okay.

[00:09:13]>> Phone. Your hands behind your back.

[00:09:22]>> I asked you to do anything that was going to hurt me.

[00:09:25]>> I'm glad you didn't use that. I did not want to tase anybody today.

[00:09:31]You're not in that much trouble, but if you cross that guard line, you're going to be in super duper trouble. You got me. I don't have >> Okay. Well, spread your legs. It's going to get uncomfortable for about two seconds. Okay.

[00:09:44]>> Okay.

[00:09:46]All right. So, here go the deal, man.

[00:09:47]You can't take this with you. It's going to be thrown away.

[00:09:50]>> Oh, I thought she had a damn handcuff in here. Oh, what the what the hell is this?

[00:09:55]Is this one of the magnet things to take off the >> She just caught a second felony.

[00:10:02]>> That's crazy.

[00:10:04]>> In the end, all suspects were charged with felony shoplifting under Georgia law with two of them facing additional party to a crime charges. One woman was also hit with an extra felony after officers discovered an anti- theft tag removal device [music] inside her purse.

[00:10:21]With the merchandise value exceeding the felony threshold and evidence suggesting organized retail theft, the suspects could face between 1 and 10 years in prison, heavy fines, and long-term felony records. Viewers had strong reactions. Let's see what they said.

[00:10:37][music] The audacity to have an attitude after being caught stealing. just accept it and leave. The attitude of thieves is unbelievable. No remorse, no conscience.

[00:10:48]It's just disgusting. They're professional thieves. Jail. One of the most dangerous things is when adults turn miners into accompllices for their own bad decisions. Just one trip with a shoplifting group can push a 17-year-old into the criminal justice system and leave them facing felony charges like a real adult offender. [music] Next, three young women caught shoplifting stayed shockingly calm even after getting stopped.

[00:11:18]>> And I touched >> you were seen all of you working together.

[00:11:23]>> On December 21st, 2024, the officers and loss prevention spotted three young women carrying an empty Nike bag through multiple stores. Minutes later, the bag was packed with suspicious merchandise, unaware they'd been watched the entire time.

[00:11:40]>> Elena, please go and stop. All three of you, stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop.

[00:11:45]Stop.

[00:11:47]Stop. Take this. Set this down.

[00:12:01]The back.

[00:12:04]I'm trying to like >> here. Yeah, >> take your >> Even after being handcuffed, none of the three appeared nervous or afraid. Their unusually calm behavior seemed to reveal this wasn't their first time dealing with a situation like this.

[00:12:42]>> She's in the hallway.

[00:12:46]>> I got one in here.

[00:12:47]>> I got here.

[00:12:50]>> How old are you? How old are you?

[00:12:53]>> How old are you? Oh, okay. You stand over there.

[00:12:59]10:12.

[00:13:00]>> All right. I'll start with you. Come over with me.

[00:13:02]>> Hey guys, we're going to need you to go the other way. This area is closed.

[00:13:07]Go ahead and stand against the wall.

[00:13:10]All right. Do you know why we're here?

[00:13:12]>> Yep.

[00:13:13]>> Why are we here?

[00:13:14]>> Victoria Secret.

[00:13:15]>> What happened in Victoria's Secret?

[00:13:18]>> I wasn't there. I was on a bike. So, you tell me. Obviously, we're here for a reason, but what happened in Victoria's Secret?

[00:13:26]>> I don't know. That's what he said.

[00:13:28]>> What? What did you guys do in Victoria Secret?

[00:13:31]>> You said you know why we're here. So, that's fine. But do you know why we're here? What was your part in Victoria's Secret? What you guys were doing?

[00:13:42]Did you take anything?

[00:13:44]Did you not take anything?

[00:13:48]Surveillance is going to say otherwise.

[00:13:50]So just remember you're being watched.

[00:13:56]>> So what was your part?

[00:13:58]Honesty is always best policy.

[00:14:01]You never been arrested before? No. Just haven't gotten caught. You done this before? Shoplift before? No. So just because he said something happened Victoria Secret. What happened? What was your report?

[00:14:14]It's okay. You can be honest.

[00:14:16]You don't want to talk.

[00:14:18]That's it. All right.

[00:14:20]Why are we here?

[00:14:22]>> I came to get something for my trip.

[00:14:25]>> You came to get something for your trip.

[00:14:26]What? What kind of What did you come to get?

[00:14:29]>> Guys, can you go the other way?

[00:14:31]>> A other way.

[00:14:34]>> I came to get a Nike.

[00:14:36]>> Okay. So, what were you doing in Victoria?

[00:14:39]>> I was. Separated for questioning, the suspects quickly became uncooperative, repeatedly shifting blame between each other, making it far harder for officers to determine who was actually leading the operation.

[00:14:54]>> No, you were never seen go into the register.

[00:14:57]>> We watched you can >> you came from the store with an nifty bag or from your car with an empty nifty Nike bag. Okay. You were watching from the whole time before you guys walked in. So don't play that game. You were seen on surveillance as well. So don't lie. Tell us what you were doing in Victoria Secret. I bought panties from me.

[00:15:13]>> You never went to the cash register.

[00:15:14]>> I can show you the receipt on my phone.

[00:15:16]>> You The receipts don't go on the phone, sweetheart.

[00:15:18]>> I swear to God.

[00:15:20]>> We watched you go in.

[00:15:21]>> I can show you the email. There's even a receipt in that bag. You look at it.

[00:15:25]>> There isn't.

[00:15:26]>> So, I didn't buy nothing at that store.

[00:15:28]>> No, you never were seen going to that register. You guys are seen concealing objects.

[00:15:33]You are never seen going to the register. So, don't lie. Stop lying. Be honest. This is what's going to hit you up. You're not. I'm I swear to God on everything I love, I'm being honest.

[00:15:41]>> That's cool. It'll go in the affidavit when we arrest you.

[00:15:43]>> Yeah, but I'm telling you the truth.

[00:15:45]Like, >> there is no receipt.

[00:15:49]>> There is no receipt.

[00:15:50]>> There was a receipt on my email. Like, you literally pulled my phone out and looked inside.

[00:15:53]>> You never went to the register. So, what' you do? Air drop it or something?

[00:15:58]>> I got air.

[00:15:59]>> I don't know. You never went to the register. So, how did you pay for something?

[00:16:02]>> Show you how.

[00:16:04]I'm I'm I'm telling you. You were watched the entire time in the store.

[00:16:07]You never went to the register to pay for anything. They >> Huh? So, how did they take money from you if you never went there? Is that what I said? Did they air drop it?

[00:16:16]>> Is it some special technique? Tell me.

[00:16:19]Please be honest.

[00:16:21]>> To the register. I bought the pennies.

[00:16:23]>> You did not go to the register.

[00:16:26]>> How you going to tell me?

[00:16:27]>> We watched you the entire time.

[00:16:28]>> You couldn't have.

[00:16:30]>> We did. I did not. No, but we have enough people that did. And that's why you three are detained right now >> because you were watched concealing items and walking past the point of sale instantly.

[00:16:41]>> No, cuz there's nothing to show.

[00:16:44]>> I don't know how you're going to show me when you never went to the cash register. You never checked out. No, >> you're detained. Cannot get in your phone.

[00:16:51]>> I don't even got to unlock it. All I got to do is put it on.

[00:16:55]>> I want to know how you went to the register when you went to the register.

[00:16:58]When you were watching the entire time, >> we walked to the Victoria Secret.

[00:17:01]>> No, cuz once we leave here, you're going in my car. Okay.

[00:17:04]>> So, you tell me how did you go to the register?

[00:17:06]>> I walked to the register and gave the money out my purse like a normal person would, right?

[00:17:11]>> But you never went to the register.

[00:17:13]>> Y'all got >> So, you're going to stick with it?

[00:17:15]You're going to stick with it.

[00:17:16]>> Even as officers pointed out the contradictions in her story, the suspects refused to back down, continuing to push explanations that became harder and harder to believe.

[00:17:27]>> What's going on right now?

[00:17:31]Why are you in the cops right now? Why are we stopping out? What happened?

[00:17:41]>> You don't want to talk? Okay. So, you don't want to give your side of the story cuz all I'm all I'm going off of is what we have and what we've seen you guys do. So, we're giving you an option to talk if you want to. But if you choose not to, that's fine.

[00:17:53]>> You don't want to talk? Okay. You may have one receipt, but it's not enough for what you guys talked.

[00:17:58]>> That's just for what?

[00:17:59]>> Y'all can't show me nothing else that I touched.

[00:18:02]>> You were seen, all of you working together, choosing items together, working together in concert to steal. Doesn't matter if one person has the item and they walk out of the store with it, you all are taking the ride for it.

[00:18:15]>> I'm just being honest, though, dude.

[00:18:16]That's how it works. Can you >> show their seat again real quick?

[00:18:22]>> I was lying about you.

[00:18:26]take a picture. Make sure you get yourself back.

[00:18:29]>> What is it?

[00:18:30]>> No, you want all the way.

[00:18:31]>> Let me see it.

[00:18:32]>> I'm sorry. I don't want to show you.

[00:18:34]>> Okay, next one.

[00:18:36]>> Hey.

[00:18:38]>> Okay. Um, >> no. So, the one with the red hair purchased something at the register. 141 today.

[00:18:54]a pair of red or what color underwear were they?

[00:18:56]>> It was blue and white.

[00:18:57]>> Blue and white underwear >> for $2.99 or 318 after tax. So, one item in that bag was paid for.

[00:19:06]So, yes, that was one item. [music] Yeah. Yeah, she has it on her phone, too.

[00:19:12]like that.

[00:19:20]>> Finally, all three suspects were placed in handcuffs and charged under Florida's organized retail theft laws. If convicted, they could face jail time, heavy fines, strict probation, and permanent criminal records that could seriously damage their future job opportunities [music] and lives. Let's take a look at what the internet had to say about this. So defiant. No shame.

[00:19:45]They think this is a game. Three bandits, one bonnet, zero brains. Damn, those are some hard living teens. Do you think these three still have a real chance at building honest careers after this? Or can one bad decision permanently ruin a person's future?

[00:20:02]Next, 35 theft cases across Florida.

[00:20:05]Let's see what happened.

[00:20:07]>> They were coming into the store and what we call is doing a straight push out.

[00:20:10]Come to me right now, >> Eddie.

[00:20:13]>> On September 10th, 2024, multiple major retail chains across Florida reported a wave of organized thefts stretching over several months as surveillance [music] footage from CVS, Walgreens, and Publix began connecting together. Detectives realized they were dealing with a far more professional retail theft crew than expected. So sometime in the beginning of 2024, I was notified by you in reference to subjects that were um being uh reported uh thefts of what and other type of like items at the beginning of the year. And then uh through uh notification of dates, times, potential locations, I was able to review video, cooperate everything, and then actually document numerous thefts.

[00:20:59]>> Okay. And uh about how many thefts?

[00:21:01]>> Uh about 10.

[00:21:02]>> Okay. Okay. So the first uh notification that we essentially got reference to the thefts at CVS was on 317 at approximately 1852 hours at the address of SE 7534 Lakeworth Road. Um it reference to a blackmail that uh had taken approximately uh without payment. Uh, next one was on March 24th, 2024 at approximately 1617 hours. CVS located at 3187 South Congress Avenue in Palm Springs, uh, blackmail again entered in and removed without payment. And then on 3:27 2024 at approximately 1630 hours, uh CVS located at 245 South Military Trail in West Palm Beach. Uh two subjects entered into the location.

[00:21:56]>> Surveillance footage showed the group moving in a coordinated manner, repeatedly targeting high-v value merchandise before walking out without paying. From there, the investigation rapidly expanded as retail chains across Florida began sharing evidence, allowing detectives to gradually identify the suspects behind the operation.

[00:22:17]>> Mr. Gonzalez, can you tell me what company you're with, your position, approximately how long you've been with the company?

[00:22:22]>> So, I've worked for Walgreens for 25 years. Uh, I'm a current uh my current role as a major crimes investigator in the asset protection solutions uh department.

[00:22:31]>> Okay. So um I was contacted by Detective Apple uh reference this matter uh that uh there were uh numerous thefts occurring in the Palm Beach market. So I was working closely with another asset protection solutions uh uh asset protection manager in Walgreens. Her name is Deborah. um looking into a few different incidents all in the Palm Beach uh market um where we had suspects that were in a blue Honda Civic and they were going in and stealing different items from inside the numerous stores um specifically um if I want to go into each incident now or >> um just was there a general type of merchandise that they were stealing?

[00:23:15]>> Yes. Uh regular retail items that we sell uh off the shelves.

[00:23:19]>> All right. So uh with that said um we have uh approximately 15 incidents I believe it is. Do do you know the exact count?

[00:23:26]>> Yes, it is 15.

[00:23:27]>> 15 incidents. Okay. And >> Okay. So the first incident that I have recorded was uh back on March 1st, 2024.

[00:23:34]Uh there were two suspects, two black male suspects that came in. I stole about 10 items. Uh all of these incidents are incidents that I had uh reviewed um on CCTV and once again provided to Detective Apple for purposes of the investigation. Okay, fantastic.

[00:23:50]Um, on behalf of Walgreens, uh, would, uh, would you like to prosecute for, uh, all of these incidents?

[00:23:56]>> Absolutely.

[00:23:57]>> Okay, thank you. This is Detective Apple, ID number 24109. Today is October 1st, 2024. Current time is 1324, 1329 hours. And, uh, Mr. Barrett, can you just uh, give me a a brief uh, synopsis of your position uh, and what company you're with and approximately how long you've been in in your role?

[00:24:17]>> Sure. Uh, I am employed by Public Supermarkets, Inc. Um, I've been employed with uh Publix since um 2018.

[00:24:27]>> Okay. All right. Thank you.

[00:24:28]>> It was brought to my attention uh through through uh you, sir, uh Detective Apple, uh about a group that was um uh targeting stores include Publix and um essentially they were coming into the store and what we call is doing a straight push out. Investigators say the group carried out 35 thefts across multiple stores over several months, mainly stealing high-value items to resell online for profit. After months of tracking surveillance footage, detectives finally traced one of the key suspects, Eddie, to his home where tensions quickly escalated as officers believed he was hiding inside.

[00:25:20]Good morning.

[00:25:22]>> Sheriff's office.

[00:25:24]>> How are you?

[00:25:26]>> Good. I need to talk to Eddie.

[00:25:28]>> Eddie?

[00:25:29]>> Yes. Your son?

[00:25:33]>> Go get him, please.

[00:25:36]>> Go get Eddie.

[00:25:38]>> Ma'am, go get him.

[00:25:39]>> Go get him now.

[00:25:41]>> Me? Yes, you go get Eddie right now. Go get Eddie right now. Look in all the bathrooms. Pull up all the sheets. Go get him right now. Marlin, she's just walking around confused. Just keep holding.

[00:25:58]Get Eddie right now. I just saw you talking to him. Get Eddie right now.

[00:26:02]Have him come out of the house. He has a warrant for his arrest. Go get him. his mother, Ed. Annie, go get him right now or else I'm gonna put a dog in this house and he's gonna get bit. Do you understand?

[00:26:13]>> No, I don't understand.

[00:26:14]>> Good. Come here. You come here. You come here now.

[00:26:19]Come. Come. Come here.

[00:26:24]>> Eddie, I'll let you do all that, brother. All right. Come out. We're going to put you in cuffs. All right.

[00:26:29]And I'll let you write all your phone numbers down.

[00:26:32]>> All right. Come to me right now, Eddie.

[00:26:35]Eddie, face away from us and walk backward.

[00:26:39]>> Pencil and all that.

[00:26:39]>> Drop the pencil. I'm going to let you take all that.

[00:26:41]>> Drop all that, dude.

[00:26:42]>> Turn around.

[00:26:43]>> Face that way. Face that way. Face that way. Walk backwards slowly. Keep going.

[00:26:49]Keep going. Keep going.

[00:26:58]>> Put your wrists together, bro. Put your hands together.

[00:27:01]>> Put your wrist together.

[00:27:03]>> Daddy, do you know why we're here? Yes.

[00:27:05]>> Okay. You know why we why we're here?

[00:27:08]>> Confirm your name for me.

[00:27:10]>> As detectives pressed further, the suspect quickly admitted knowing the others involved. But what investigators uncovered next pushed the case far beyond ordinary shoplifting.

[00:27:21]>> Okay, ma'am. Look at me. He's got an arrest warrant. Okay. He's got to go to the Palm Beach County Jail. He's got a pretty hefty bond. All right. It's almost $200,000.

[00:27:33]200 >> 200,000.

[00:27:35]Okay. $20,000 to get him out.

[00:27:39]>> I'll fix him at the court. Okay.

[00:27:42]>> Do you understand your charges? Do you understand what you've been charged with?

[00:27:46]>> No.

[00:27:47]>> Okay. So, here's a copy of of your All right. And on here, your first charge is conspiracy to commit racketeering. The next charge is organized retail theft. Then there's a charge of grand theft. And there's a charge of unlawful use of two-way communication device.

[00:28:02]>> Okay. Um, did you know that you had a warrant out for your arrest prior to today?

[00:28:07]>> Yes.

[00:28:08]>> Do you know who else was arrested as part of your case?

[00:28:11]>> Yeah.

[00:28:12]>> What are their names?

[00:28:13]>> Yeah.

[00:28:14]>> Who?

[00:28:16]>> Ariel?

[00:28:17]>> Okay. How do you know Ariel?

[00:28:19]>> Through a friend.

[00:28:21]>> Through a friend.

[00:28:22]>> Yeah.

[00:28:22]>> How long have you known Ariel?

[00:28:24]>> I don't know.

[00:28:26]>> I don't understand. that I'm doing exactly.

[00:28:29]>> Oh, okay. Months, years, I did everything. Is there a reason why the two of you did what you've done?

[00:28:38]>> I have an addiction. That's why >> I don't understand. You got to say that.

[00:28:41]>> I say I have addiction.

[00:28:44]>> You have an addiction?

[00:28:45]>> Yeah.

[00:28:46]>> You have a drug problem?

[00:28:47]>> Yeah.

[00:28:48]>> What kind of drugs?

[00:28:49]>> Uh, I added and I was in my back. So, if I'm understanding you correctly, you you have indiction of her set in IV. Is that what you're saying?

[00:29:01]>> And um it's no secret that this is all shoplifting cases.

[00:29:07]You understand that? So, were you shoplifting to to to [clears throat] get money for your addition? As surveillance footage, phone data, and financial records continued to pile up, detectives believed the suspects were operating a coordinated retail theft ring across multiple counties. During a live surveillance operation, Ariel and Laquentin were arrested with a large amount of stolen merchandise inside their vehicle. But what shocked investigators even more was the discovery of a 4-month-old baby inside the car, leading to an additional child neglect charge. Once the suspects realized the case had expanded far beyond ordinary shoplifting with possible links to controlled substances and racketeering, one of them ultimately requested a lawyer.

[00:29:57]>> This is July 20th.

[00:30:00]Is that you in that picture?

[00:30:03]>> Mhm.

[00:30:04]No.

[00:30:05]>> Did you say yes?

[00:30:08]>> I just want to make sure I'm understanding. Yes. Okay.

[00:30:10]>> So, I know that's a few months back.

[00:30:13]When you say you stopped, is that is that near the end of of when you stopped?

[00:30:18]>> Yes.

[00:30:19]>> Okay. So, you've been charged with several things here. Okay. The first one is conspiracy to commit racketeering.

[00:30:26]Racketeering. Racketeering covers a lot more than just just your individual shoplifting cases. So, so as part of that, that's why we've included incidents that you've already been charged with. Okay? It's not like we're charging you again. We're including it in here because it's just kind of part of that charge. I'm sure you'll have an attorney and I'm sure that they can explain that to you in more detail, but it's not like you're being charged with that specific incident a second time.

[00:30:56]That is not the case. Finally, all three suspects were hit with multiple serious felony charges, [music] including organized retail theft, grand theft, conspiracy to commit racketeering, unlawful use of communication devices in criminal activity, and child neglect after investigators discovered a 4-month-old baby inside the suspect's vehicle during the operation. Under Florida law, the group could face years in prison, massive bond amounts, and permanent criminal records capable of destroying future opportunities and their lives moving forward. The biggest lesson [music] is to never assume small thefts won't lead to serious consequences. Staying calm, earning money legally, and [music] avoiding people who regularly break the law is the best way to protect your future.

[00:31:45]We'd love [music] to hear your thoughts on this video. Please support our channel by subscribing, hit like and share so you [music] won't miss more incredible real life moments every day.