Michigan Retail Fraud Ring Busted

Authorities in suburban Detroit, Mich., say they’ve broken up a retail fraud ring and recovered more than $3 million in merchandise.

The office of Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard announced the results of the investigation on Wednesday. The sheriff’s department says participants in the ring were shoplifting as much as $15,000 worth of goods per day in southeastern Michigan.

An afternoon news conference was planned in Pontiac at the sheriff’s office. The investigation in Hazel Park was led by the Oakland County Narcotics Enforcement Team, a multi-jurisdictional group that involves Detroit-area law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.