How A Criminal Enterprise Stole $800,000 From Meijer Stores

Retail criminals have gotten better at getting away with their crimes.

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A group in Michigan targeted Meijer and was able to scam them out of almost $1,000,000

Meijer has suffered over $800,000 in losses due to an organized retail crime scheme that has persisted for several years in Michigan.

Court records identify eight people involved in this criminal enterprise that have charges filed against them, those include Christine Day, Travis Gale, Travis Plotts, Kristin Ragen, Thomas Ragen, Efrain Tejada, Elizabeth Tejada and Sara Tejada

According to police investigators many of these people are related or closely associated to each other.

Most of them have already been sentenced for felony charges related to conducting a criminal enterprise, although Gale's sentencing has been postponed.

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker highlighted the innovative tactics criminals use to steal, which extend beyond simple shoplifting.

In early 2022, Meijer reported a staggering loss of $805,000 attributed to counterfeit coupon barcodes, with Gale implicated in numerous fraudulent transactions.

Investigators said that the scheme may date back to at least 2018, with significant losses occurring in a short period.

How Michigan Is Dealing With Retail Crime

Retail crime has become a pressing issue, with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel establishing the FORCE team and Organized Retail Crime Unit to combat this trend.

Since its inception in April 2023, the task force has charged 41 defendants across 13 cases, resulting in nearly $13 million in losses to Michigan businesses.

How Much Money Business Lose

Retailers are increasingly facing challenges due to theft, which not only affects their bottom line but also leads to higher prices for consumers.

Amy Drumm from the Michigan Retailers Association told Wood TV organized retail crime costs retailers an average of $700,000 per $1 billion in sales.

I'm glad that police were able to crack the case and bring these criminals to justice.

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Gallery Credit: Big Joe Pesh