Police nab suspected members of shoplifting ring

The Associated Press//October 3, 2013//

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FLORENCE (AP) — Ten people are in jail and have been charged in a series of shoplifting incidents in Florence that cost businesses more than $30,000 over two years.

The Morning News of Florence reported Thursday (http://bit.ly/1g77WaM ) that police Maj. Carolos Raines says eight of the people worked together, while two others were involved in a similar scam. Raines says the charges include shoplifting, receiving stolen goods and criminal conspiracy.

Raines says the scam hit stores 17 times in 20 days. He says one person would shoplift items, bring them out and hand them to someone else. That person would then return the stolen merchandise for a gift card, which would be pawned for half its value.

Raines says the activity was caught on store security cameras.