Three guys have been arrested on suspicion of being members of a massive retail theft ring that has stolen thousands of dollars in items throughout the country.
According to authorities, at around 2:00 p.m. on Monday, the Cranston authorities department got information from a cooperating law enforcement agency about a group of people suspected of being members of a South American organized retail theft group.
The letter stated that a Ford Flex, previously utilized in a retail theft incident on March 23, 2025, had been discovered in Connecticut and was suspected of going north with the purpose of committing other shoplifting charges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In response, a nationwide bulletin was issued, which included a description of the suspect car and its registration number.
Around 3:00 p.m., detectives received notification that the suspect car had activated a Flock license plate scanner near downtown Providence. This information was shared with the Providence Police Department, which discovered the suspicious car near Providence Place Mall. Accusations of larceny and conspiracy led to the arrest of four defendants associated with the stolen vehicle. Providence Police are still investigating.
Three distinct retail theft incidents were recorded in Cranston between February 17 and March 23, 2025, at two prominent department stores in the Garden City Center, resulting in a total loss of around $7,000.
The same group is believed to be responsible for a larger pattern of thefts in multiple states, including New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Illinois, with total losses expected to surpass $30,000.
According to police, these groups are known to travel across state lines and perpetrate thefts in quick succession before relocating and, in some cases, returning to previously targeted establishments. Local shops, internet marketplaces, and social media channels occasionally purchase items from these groups.
According to officials, the deployment of technologies like the Flock License Plate Reader system has proven essential in detecting suspect vehicles and facilitating investigations into these intricate criminal networks.
Some of those arrested by Providence Police are now facing felony larceny and conspiracy charges from the Cranston Police Department in connection with the thefts in Cranston.
The victims are Keiner Perez Salas (20), Beickel Amestoy Arrelano (21), and Howard Garcia Marquez (22).
For a fourth suspect who escaped capture in Providence yesterday, Cranston Police will request an arrest warrant.
All of the suspects are Venezuelan nationals with previous theft-related felony records in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Amestoy Arrelano is also wanted in New York for grand larceny and by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for failing to appear for removal from the country.
According to statistics, shoplifting losses vary by store type but can account for approximately one-third of overall inventory shrinkage. Shoplifting is projected to occur 330-440 million times per year, causing a loss of $10-$13 billion. Every day, 1.0-1.2 million shoplifting incidences occur across the country, resulting in a loss rate of $19,000-$25,300 each minute.
“Organized retail crime is a growing threat that impacts local businesses and communities across state lines,” said Cranston Colonel Michael Winquist. “This case demonstrates the critical importance of collaboration between local, state, and federal partners, as well as the use of emerging technologies like license plate reader systems. We will continue aggressively pursuing these criminal networks and ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
