Three South Florida women are accused of turning baby formula into the focal point of an organized retail theft ring that allegedly stole more than $32,000 worth of product from stores in six Florida counties.
Detectives said the operation lasted from November 2024 to January 2026 and expanded into a multi-county investigation following a February 2025 theft at a Publix in Loxahatchee. Detectives say the trend quickly escalated into something much larger after matching surveillance video from the original report to footage from other agencies.
Investigators from Palm Beach County identified the accused as Debreka Anderson, 28, Elizabeth Hutchins, 34, and Geraldine Kitchen, 38. According to the complaint, the trio has been linked to 47 separate occurrences in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Orange, Polk, and Osceola counties, resulting in an estimated total loss of $32,609. According to detectives, the women targeted major businesses like Publix, Walmart, Target, CVS, and Winn-Dixie, utilizing disguised bags, covered strollers, and rented automobiles to steal cans of formula before selling the products through a suspected fence facility. According to CBS12, arrest warrants approved March 6 charge Anderson and Hutchins with three counts each and Kitchen with two counts, all of which are felonies under Florida law.
In 2024, Florida toughened penalties for repeat retail theft with House Bill 549, a law aimed squarely at coordinated shoplifting gangs, smash-and-grab strikes, and porch piracy. In a news release issued by the Attorney General’s Office, officials stated that recent first-degree criminal charges in a high-value infant formula investigation were made possible in part by that law. Local coverage during the bill signing detailed provisions that boost penalties when groups plan thefts together or recruit participants online, according to WPBF.
According to loss prevention specialists, infant formula is a favorite among organized theft crews since it is small, pricey, and in high demand. This combination makes it simple to move swiftly in secondary markets, whether in person or online. According to data from the National Retail Federation, stealing and organized retail crime have increased recently, with high-value consumables frequently appearing on thieves’ lists.
Detectives said they traced a digital trail that linked dozens of thefts to the same gamers and a suspected fencing address in Lake Worth’s Isola Bella Estates gated community. According to the affidavit, investigators used security footage, license plate records, rental car transaction data, and gated community visitor logs. One person detained in a different instance acknowledged purchasing stolen formula at the Lake Worth property, which officials say helped establish the link to the suspected fencing operation.
Arrest warrants were issued on March 6, and investigators say the case is being combined with a larger statewide organized retail fraud investigation, according to CBS12.
The ongoing investigation will determine the course of the cases and the possibility of additional arrests, according to investigators. Officials are encouraging anyone with knowledge about similar thefts or reselling activities to contact their local law enforcement agency so that detectives can pursue new leads.
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