3 ‘sophisticated’ retail thieves arrested at The Outlets at Orange with thousands in stolen merchandise: CHP
Three “sophisticated” retail thieves were arrested at The Outlets at Orange with thousands in stolen merchandise, California Highway Patrol announced Wednesday.
The investigation began when CHP officers in the Organized Retail Crime Task Force spotted two people walking toward the mall with booster bags.
Booster bags are handmade foil-lined bags often used by shoplifters to exit stores with stolen merchandise without triggering the stores’ anti-theft alarms.
One of the suspects then entered a store and came out about two minutes later with his bag fully loaded, CHP officials said in a news release.
As he walked out, a female accomplice entered.
The suspect then walked to a minivan in the parking lot and dumped out the stolen merchandise.
That’s when investigators swooped in and detained him, waiting for his accomplice to return.
Using the booster bags and security sensor disabling tools, the thieves stole 31 pairs of Levi’s jeans valued at $2,202, according to CHP.
About an hour later, the investigators saw someone “acting suspiciously” in a retail store at the same mall, authorities said.
That person was also seen filling a booster bag with merchandise. He was immediately approached by CHP investigators as he left the store.
That suspect was in possession of high-end Gucci clothing valued at $2,499 and “burglary tools almost identical to the tools possessed by the first two suspect,” CHP said.
All three were arrested on suspicion of violating California’s Organized Retail Crime law and multiple other theft charges.
CHP said its investigators caught the three alleged thieves during a “proactive operation.”
After a string of thefts targeting high-end stores last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom directed CHP to increase their presence near major retail sites to help catch the thieves.
VIDEO: Thieves pepper spray employees at Scottsdale boutique, steal $25k worth of designer handbags
The brazen robbery at a Scottsdale upscale resale store was captured on surveillance cameras. The suspects are still at large.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A brazen robbery at a Scottsdale upscale resale store was caught on camera.
The suspects can be seen stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of designer handbags and pepper-spraying two employees in the process.
It happened on Sunday at Urban Exchange near Scottsdale and Bell roads.
The owner of the store, Robi Eldred, was there when it happened and said the attack seemed targeted and the suspects knew where to go.
“They seemed to have gone right to the shelf. He knew to go behind the counter and go to that shelf. That was where all the Gucci bags were," Eldred said.
Watch the video below:
As the male suspect started grabbing the handbag, the female suspect pepper-sprayed Eldred and her employee.
“It was shocking because I didn’t know what was going on," Eldred said. “Instantly, I can’t see and my face started burning.”
The stunning attack marked the third time Urban Exchange was hit in less than a week.
The first incident happened last Monday. Two men are seen on camera taking $8,000 worth of handbags.
It happened again two days later.
“Three men came in. They were only able to get three bags that day," Eldred said. “I never thought it would happen here.”
After all three incidents, $25,000 worth of merchandise was taken. It has forced Eldred to take matters into her own hands. She’s adopted a new policy and keeps her door locked. Customers are asked to call from the front of the store to be let inside to shop.
It was a difficult decision for Eldred to make during the busiest shopping season of the year.
“It’s hard to lock our doors right now," Eldred said.
Scottsdale PD is investigating all three incidents and looking at any connections between them. No arrests have been made.
“I’m really angry about the whole thing and I would like nothing more than for the thieves to get caught," Eldred said.
Up to Speed
‘Tis the season. Milford police warn of uptick in break-ins, fraud schemes
MILFORD — Police are warning residents to lock up and be on their guard after saying they received a flurry of reports about car break-ins and fraud cases.
Reports from different parts of town describe valuables in unlocked cars and unattended homes that have been the targets of multiple breaking-and-entering incidents, according to Milford police Detective Sgt. Craig Stanley.
“They’re happening on an almost daily basis and there’s no rhyme or reason — sometimes they’re at night, sometimes during the morning, or in the afternoon," Stanley said. “When we have this happen and it’s not sporadic, it seems like we have an issue here.”
While in most cases cars have been unlocked, there have also been instances in which car windows have been shattered so that thieves could access certain items, he said.
Police are advising residents to lock their cars; to keep jewelry, collectables and large amounts of cash out of sight; and to park cars in well-lit areas.
“People will leave pocketbooks in the front seat and even if the doors are locked, (thieves) will see a Gucci bag and think, chances are, there’s going to be some good money or valuable thing inside,” said Stanley. “Our biggest thing is to tell people, ‘Don’t leave valuables in plain sight, keep the doors locked, and if you can help it, don’t leave any valuables in your car at all.’
“We’ve had a couple of cases where significant amounts of money were stolen out of vehicles, and in some cases, the doors were locked."
Police are also advising residents to secure home windows, place motion lights on their property and to install security cameras — especially focusing on delivery drop-off areas.
Home burglaries have occurred during the day — when most homeowners have been at work — to steal laptops, iPads, cash and jewelry, said Stanley.
In some instances, house doors have been locked and break-ins still occur when suspects get in through windows, said Stanley.
“The breaking-and-entries are happening in different areas of town and we’re not the only town that is experiencing this,” the detective said. “All of the surrounding counties have the same issues.”
Stanley said police continue to also see financial schemes that mostly target the elderly.
Police advise residents against buying into “get rich quick” offers and have suggested increased scrutiny on any approaches.
“This issue came with the internet, unfortunately,” said Stanley. “The elderly, obviously, are the most susceptible, and usually during the holidays they become more frequent.”
Stanley said that in some cases, victims receive phone calls from people who tell them that their relatives have been arrested, asking for bail money to be wired.
“Be cautious with contractors and giving money to charitable organizations,” police advise. “Take your time to check the legitimacy or ask a family or friend to check for you.”
“Call the police to ask any questions regarding legitimacy of anything you believe is not.”
So as to not compromise the investigation, Stanley declined to comment on whether any recent break-ins are related, or whether police have any leads or made arrests.
He did say police would keep residents updated if there are new developments.
Anyone with information about break-ins or fraud schemes can access the Milford Police Department’s tip line at 508-473-3800 with a promise of anonymity.
Toni Caushi is a reporter at the Daily News. He can be reached at tcaushi@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @tcaushi
Meet the top 31 execs defining the future of advertising in video games and esports
26.6 million US consumers tune into esports and gaming streams every month.
That audience represents a big opportunity for advertisers to reach Gen Z and Millennials.
Insider identified the top 31 execs in this space.
Advertising in and around video game content is both a nascent opportunity and one with vast potential.
In the US, 26.6 million people tune into esports on a monthly basis, and there are 177.7 million monthly gamers, according to Insider Intelligence.
Brands are now pouring billions of ad dollars into in-game advertisements, streaming ads, and sponsorships. Research and advisory firm Technavio predicts in-game advertising alone will grow to be a $3.54 billion market by 2025.
However, many corporations aren’t sure how to navigate this exploding space, so a new generation of ad execs is rising — professionals with the gaming expertise and marketing backgrounds to guide advertisers through this unfamiliar territory.
The past couple years have seen a slew of non-endemic brands launch gaming and esports campaigns. For example, in November, Nike created a virtual world inside Roblox, a gaming platform with hundreds of millions of players. And State Farm introduced “Jake from State Farm’' into the video game NBA2K in September.
Insider identified the top 31 execs who are working to find new opportunities for advertisements in video games. They come from ad agencies, new startups, video game developers like Roblox, and brands like Chipotle and Bud Light.
We chose these individuals through our own original reporting and nominations. In compiling this list, we considered what kinds of brands they work with and if they were able to demonstrate success with tangible metrics. We did not consider execs who work exclusively in mobile gaming environments, as app advertising is well established.
Scroll down to read the full list below.
The Top 10 Movies of 2021
Looking for a good movie to watch this Christmas?
We have rounded up the 10 biggest movies of the year so far and where you can watch them.
Take a look:
Promising Young Woman
Promising Young Woman tells the story of a wickedly smart and cunning woman named Cassie (played by Carey Mulligan), who lives a secret double life.
An unexpected encounter gives Cassie a chance to right the wrongs from the past, with the film’s ending promising to shock viewers.
‘Promising Young Woman’ is now available to watch on Sky Cinema and NOW TV – who offer a seven-day free trial for first-time subscribers.
Cruella
This live-action feature film delves into the rebellious early days of one of cinemas most notorious – and notoriously fashionable – villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil.
Set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, Cruella follows a young grifter named Estella (played by Emma Stone), a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs.
She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets.
One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson), a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute.
But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.
Watch it on Disney+ here.
Black Widow
Scarlett Johansson stars as Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, in this 2021 Marvel film.
She confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy, and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger. It was one of the highest grossing films of the year. You can watch it on Disney+ here.
No Time To Die
Daniel Craig played James Bond for the fifth and final time in No Time To Die.
The film sees Bond enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica, when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain, armed with dangerous new technology. Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ralph Fiennes, Christoph Waltz, Ben Whishaw, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch and Ana de Armas also star in the must-see film of the year. The film is still in cinemas now.
House of Gucci
House of Gucci has received rave reviews from film critics.
The movie boasts a star-studded cast – Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Jack Huston, Salma Hayek and Al Pacino.
It is inspired by the shocking true story of the family empire behind the Italian fashion house of Gucci.
Spanning three decades of love, betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately murder, we see what a name means, what it’s worth, and how far a family will go for control.
The movie is in cinemas now.
Spencer
Kristen Stewart stars as Princess Diana in Pablo Larraín directed film Spencer.
The Princess of Wales was tragically killed in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997.
The movie focuses on one weekend in December 1991, when Princess Diana joins the Royal family for Christmas as Sandringham – and decides to end her marriage to Prince Charles.
Spencer is in cinemas now.
Belfast
Belfast is a personal and joyful story about the power of memory, set in late 1960s Northern Ireland.
At the centre of the film is Buddy, a young boy on the cusp of adolescence, whose life is filled with familial love, childhood hijinks, and a blossoming romance.
Yet, with his beloved hometown caught up in increasing turmoil, his family faces a momentous choice: hope the conflict will pass or leave everything they know behind for a new life.
The film was written and directed by Kenneth Branagh, and is based on his experiences of growing up in the Tigers Bay area of north Belfast.
Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Ciarán Hinds, Jude Hill and Lewis McAskie star in the film, which has been nominated for multiple Golden Globe awards.
Belfast is in cinemas in the US now, and is set for release in Irish cinemas on January 21, 2022.
In The Heights
From the creator of ‘Hamilton’ and the director of ‘Crazy Rich Asians’, ‘In the Heights’ fuses Lin-Manuel Miranda’s kinetic music and lyrics with director Jon M. Chu’s lively and authentic eye for storytelling to capture a world very much of its place, but universal in its experience.
Starring Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, singer/songwriter Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gregory Diaz IV, Stephanie Beatriz, Dascha Polanco and Jimmy Smits.
In Washington Heights, N.Y., the scent of warm coffee hangs in the air just outside of the 181st St. subway stop, where a kaleidoscope of dreams rallies a vibrant and tight-knit community.
At the intersection of it all is a likable and magnetic bodega owner who hopes, imagines and sings about a better life.
You can watch the musical drama on Sky Cinema now.
Eternals
Irish actor Barry Keoghan starred alongside Angelina Jolie, Kit Harington, Gemma Chan, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden and Kumail Nanjiani in Eternals.
According to Marvel Studios, the film tells the epic story of “a group of immortal heroes forced out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s oldest enemy, The Deviants”.
The Eternals are “Richard Madden as the all-powerful Ikaris, Gemma Chan as humankind-loving Sersi, Kumail Nanjiani as cosmic-powered Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as the super-fast Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as the intelligent inventor Phastos, Salma Hayek as the wise and spiritual leader Ajak, Lia McHugh as the eternally young, old-soul Sprite, Don Lee as the powerful Gilgamesh, Barry Keoghan as aloof loner Druig, and Angelina Jolie as the fierce warrior Thena”.
Eternals is coming to Disney+ on January 12, 2022.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jon Favreau, Jacob Batalon and Marisa Tomei star in Spider-Man: No Way Home – which hit cinemas on December 15.
The official synopsis reads: “For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighbourhood hero’s identity is revealed, bringing his Super Hero responsibilities into conflict with his normal life and putting those he cares about most at risk.”
“When he enlists Doctor Strange’s help to restore his secret, the spell tears a hole in their world, releasing the most powerful villains who’ve ever fought a Spider-Man in any universe.”
“Now, Peter will have to overcome his greatest challenge yet, which will not only forever alter his own future but the future of the Multiverse.”
Spider-Man: No Way Home is in cinemas across the country now.