Attorney General Ashley Moody's Office of Statewide Prosecution has charged Lourdes Rodriguez with organized retail theft in Central and South Florida. Rodriguez is accused of committing numerous thefts across five counties, targeting stores such as Walgreens, CVS, Ulta, and liquor outlets, resulting in losses estimated at $15,000. This arrest marks the third connected to a larger organized retail theft ring responsible for over $100,000 in damages to businesses throughout Florida.
Attorney General Moody commented on the arrests: "Working with our law enforcement partners and our Florida Organized Retail Crime Exchange Task Force, we dismantled a massive organized retail theft ring with a third arrest this week. Criminal organizations be warned – in Florida, we have the tools and talent to investigate and take down your criminal enterprise, and you will pay for your crimes."
The Martin County Sheriff's Office investigation revealed that Rodriguez conducted more than a dozen thefts in Brevard, Martin, Palm Beach, Sarasota, and Seminole counties. The method involved entering stores and concealing merchandise in bags either brought by her or taken from the store before leaving with the items.
Rodriguez's activities are linked to a broader theft operation that inflicted over $100,000 in losses on more than 50 businesses statewide. She faces two counts of felony organized retail theft and two counts of grand theft. Currently held at Palm Beach County Jail on various theft-related charges.
The investigation was supported by Attorney General Moody’s Florida Organized Retail Crime Exchange Task Force (FORCE), established in 2021 to unite law enforcement, prosecutors, and retailers using coordination and technology against retail crime.
Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Chris Olowin from Attorney General Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will oversee the case.