Two sisters are charged with organized retail theft after prosecutors said they stole over $75,000 in cosmetics from over a dozen Ulta Beauty stores in Arizona.
Police claimed Ivonne Buitrago-Cabrera and Yoraima Buitrago-Cabrera entered Ulta stores, loaded cosmetics into bags, and fled 13 sites over three days in July.
According to a Phoenix police spokesperson, the two Colombian sisters stole more than $155,000 from establishments in Arizona and California.
According to Karl De La Guerra, an international security consultant, retailers continue to struggle with stopping this form of crime.
“It’s very difficult for these stores to stop, again, because of the frequency that these incidents occur,” De La Guerra added.
Between January and the end of June, police agencies filed 344 organized retail crime cases with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Both the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office have task forces focused to this type of criminal activity.
David Lake, CEO of the Center on Shadow Economics and a retired Phoenix police sergeant, stated that the scope of the problem is expanding.
“Organized retail crime at scale is outrunning the government’s ability to deal with it exponentially,” Lake added.
Lake stated that beauty products are frequently targeted because of their resale potential.
“Beauty items, like tobacco, alcohol, and medicine, are consumable and appealing. So, we can tell what the market is,” Lake explained.
Lake stated that criminals strive to resell stolen things, and the consequences go beyond the crime itself. He also mentioned that product losses might cost workers their jobs and drive businesses away from entire communities.
Lake stated that law enforcement must find innovative ways to devote more resources to retail crime.
“The economic realities of crime inevitably come to light. Do they come to light in time to effect change? “We don’t see that change in the other major cities,” Lake said.
Ivonne Buitrago-Cabrera and Yoraima Buitrago-Cabrera are each facing nine counts of organized retail theft. Police claimed the four additional incidents were uncovered after the initial charges were filed.
Police also believe the two women are responsible for thefts at Lacoste, Adidas, Puma, and Crocs retailers.
The two are being detained on $75,000 cash-only bonds for their Arizona cases.
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