Manhattan DA announces indictments for organized retail theft

THE Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has charged a company and two individuals as part of an effort to combat organized retail theft.

District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced the indictment of Bibi Rehana Khan, 54, Aaron Khan, 40, and Rehana’s Cosmetics, alleging they possessed more than $1 million in stolen property and served as a theft fence operation retail, the district attorney’s office said in a statement Thursday, May 9. ) Press release. The accused were accused with criminal possession of stolen property.

“We need to use every tool at our disposal to address the root causes of retail theft, and a critical part of that is conducting proactive, up-front investigations into those who could benefit from it,” Bragg said in the press release.

Rehana’s Cosmetics operated online and from a location in Manhattan, according to the release. When the search justifies it were executed in January, the prosecutor’s office recovered cosmetics, clothing, household items, toys and other items.

The indictment follows a long-term investigation that was facilitated by Macy’s, Ulta Beauty, CVS, Walgreens And Help with ritesaccording to the press release.

“Proactive fence investigations are one of many strategies the bureau uses to combat retail theft,” the release said. “In 2022, the office created the Manhattan Small Business Alliance to reduce shoplifting and business robberies in partnership with small business leaders from every neighborhood in Manhattan.

Retailers lost $112.1 billion shrink in 2022, compared to $93.9 billion the previous year, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said in September.

They also saw an increase in violence associated with organized retail crime (ORC), with 67% of retailers reporting an increase in violence and assaults from ORC perpetrators compared to the previous year, the NRF said.

“Retailers are seeing unprecedented levels of theft, coupled with rampant crime in their stores, and the situation is only getting worse. » David Johnstonvice president of asset protection and retail operations at NRF, said at the time in a press release.

A organized crime ring allegedly stole up to $8 million worth of cosmetics over the course of a decade, reselling the items on Amazon.

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