A California woman named Michelle Mack has been accused of orchestrating a nationwide shoplifting scheme that operated for over a decade.
The 53-year-old had allegedly enlisted the help of a team of operatives who would steal millions of dollars worth of makeup and clothing from various stores across the country. Mack, a resident of Bonsall, California, would then sell the stolen goods at discounted prices through her Amazon Marketplace storefront.
The group, dubbed the “California Girls” by investigators, is said to have targeted popular retailers such as LensCrafters, Sephora, and Ulta. They would reportedly clear entire shelves of products, concealing their loot of expensive Louis Vuitton bags. Law enforcement officials estimate that the total hit to retailers from Mack’s scheme may have topped $8 million.
The investigation into the “California Girls” began when two shoplifters were caught at an Ulta store on the East Coast. One of the individuals implicated Mack, claiming that she was working for a woman in California who provided her with a list of stores to target and the prices she would pay for stolen items. This led investigators to Mack’s storefront on Amazon, called Online Makeup Store, which had recorded sales worth $8 million since 2012.
Further investigations revealed that Mack was allegedly responsible for organizing the operations of her group, including paying for their airfares, hotel bills, and car rental costs. She would then have the stolen goods sent to her home in Bonsall before selling them on Amazon at discounted prices. However, authorities note that the steep discounts on Mack’s storefront suggested that the items were being fenced.
On December 6, 2022, authorities raided Mack’s $3 million mansion in Northern San Diego County. Inside, they found a “mini-store” of goods worth $350,000 and hundreds of parcels prepped for shipment. A search warrant application also noted that the crime was committed in a professional and organized manner, indicating planning and sophistication. The operation was also allegedly carried out with the help of Mack’s husband, Kenneth, and seven other individuals.
As of February 2022, Mack and several of her alleged associates have been charged with a total of 140 felony counts, including grand theft, receiving stolen property, conspiracy, and organized retail crime. Mack’s neighbor, who spoke to NBC7, expressed relief that the justice system was taking action against the alleged mastermind of the nationwide shoplifting scheme.
The case against Mack and her associates comes as retailers are facing an increasing threat from organized retail crime. According to the National Retail Federation, retailers lost $40.5 billion to shoplifting in 2022, much of it to organized groups. In recent years, the number of cases brought against organized theft groups by Homeland Security Investigations has tripled. Ulta, one of the targets of the “California Girls”, stated that organized retail crime not only affects retailers but also poses potential risks to consumers.
The investigation into Mack’s alleged nationwide shoplifting operation is ongoing, and authorities believe that the total size of the operation could be even bigger than initially thought.
In the meantime, Mack’s $3 million home, complete with a swimming pool, four-car garage, and 31-acre vineyard, is up for sale for $2.75 million after a $200,000 price cut. As authorities continue to crack down on organized retail crime, it serves as a warning to those who try to make easy money at the expense of others.
