Seattle police arrest more than 50 people in shoplifting ring

SEATTLE — Seattle police arrested more than 50 people in what they are calling a shoplifting ring.

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Undercover officers say thieves stole high-value items such as liquor, clothing, power tools and other merchandise from nine stores across the city.

“These people aren’t people that are stealing for survivability’s sake, this is what they do. This is organized retail theft,” said SPD Sgt. Randy Huserik.

The Seattle Police Department’s retail theft operation arrested people at nine stores, including the downtown Seattle Target and Nordstrom.

Police say they were able to trace some of the stolen items to people buying them at Third Avenue and Pine Street to resell. The alleged buyers were some of the 53 people arrested.

Sixteen of the suspects were booked into jail, and 37 were arrested and released.

Police will be forwarding those cases to prosecutors for review.

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