Eight individuals have been charged in a multi-state organized retail theft operation allegedly responsible for nearly $3 million in stolen goods from Home Depot, Lowe's, and other retailers across at least 18 states and Pennsylvania.

Morales-Sanchez was arrested September 5, 2026, with bail set at $1 million; the others were arrested September 11, 2026, with bonds ranging from $50,000 to $500,000; a preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 19, 2026.

Law enforcement partners included Montgomery County detectives and Philadelphia police, working with Cheltenham, Upper Providence, Plymouth Township, and Montgomery County, Maryland authorities.

Police followed the trio through the mall, coordinated with mall security and store loss prevention, and arrested them in a nearby parking lot when they entered a vehicle.

A search recovered stolen items and tools used to bypass anti-shoplifting systems from both the suspects and the vehicle.

Three New Yorkers were arrested at Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus after allegedly stealing about $3,925.80 in merchandise from six stores.

All three suspects were charged with second-degree organized retail theft; Calderon-Varela also faces a disorderly persons charge of possessing anti-shoplifting devices.

The trio was detained at Bergen County Jail pending further legal proceedings.

The suspects—Luisa Gonzalez, 24, Andres M. Rincon, 35, and Michell Calderon-Varela, 28—were arrested during an undercover operation on October 29 after plainclothes officers observed theft in progress and lookouts coordinating the theft.

The scheme targeted high-value items such as electrical wire, LifeProof flooring, and power tools.

An arrest warrant exists for Alexis Ezequiel Encarnancion (27) of the Bronx, New York.

Stolen items included 12 from Lululemon ($1,298), 3 from Nordstrom ($774), 10 from Abercrombie ($765), 3 from Aritzia ($628), 1 from Alo Yoga ($348), and 2 from Windsor ($112.80).