by KYW's John McDevitt
Several people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in an organized shoplifting ring, operating out of several small grocery stores or bodegas in the city of Camden.
Officials said millions of dollars of merchadise, like baby formula, haircare products and over-the-counter medication, were stolen from retail stores in the tri-state area since 2003.
Camden county prosecutor Warren Faulk:
"Basically, the operation consisted of bodegas in the city of Camden which would put out shopping lists of merchandise. And drug users would be given the shopping lists. [They] would enter retail stores, steal the selected items, take them to the bodegas in Camden and recieve cash for it -- and many times go around the corner and buy drugs."
Eight people were arrested, including three that authorites believed were the ring leaders. Under a law passed in 2006, charges of "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" carry a five-to-ten year sentence.
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