in the works to address water problems. And when I see some changes. >> Only on 2. Tonight, an inside look at Houston’s organized retail crime problem. Thank you for joining us at 10. >> I’m Keith Garvin. Good evening. I’m Daniela was fine with the holiday shopping season is here in groups of criminals are targeting certain stores. So for specific items that can be resold online. Quick and easy tonight, these 5 people are charged not for stealing expensive electronics. >> But because Houston police say they’ve been hitting bath and body works. Stores in our area going after 3 wick candles, KPRC two’s bres to various live on the northwest side tonight with this story you will see only on 2 Bryce. >> Keith and Daniella. These candles go for about 30 bucks. Each state make great gifts and they smell up an entire room. But Houston police say this group of alleged thieves has been walking right out of stores like this one with dozens of them out of time. And this particular store behind me has been hit 5 times just since June. >> Sense like bright Christmas morning. Merry Cookie and flannel are just a few of the fragrant forward. 3 wick candles from Bath and body works so delightful smelling. They’ve become a red hot item for thieves. There are very expensive. >> And they sell them on the street for a low dollar. So everything’s a for-profit form. >> Detective James can I is on HPD is organized crime squad. And since last August, he’s been piecing together a ring candles. Body sprays, motions, air fresheners of criminals with a specific taste. How are they operating as they’re walking into the stores usually taking the bags. Are the toad start Oats? So what we’re product and walking right out the door with them passing all points of cells. >> Investigators have identified 27 year-old Elisa Allen as the ringleader, along with her boyfriend. 25 year-old Sterling has stir in one month, charging documents show the couple stole 352 3 wick candles and other items totaling near $10,000. A night gets in. Monique. Groupon awaiting those 3 women have also been charged in connection to the ring. Tomball police say captured in these surveillance images taking products from a store earlier this month since June. Houston. Police say they’ve struck 31 times sometimes in the same day other times returning to the same store from Texas City to Conroe Pearland. >> There has been multiple occasions where they were arrested, met out on bond and they continue to do the same thing all the way up into the day. We put them in jail. >> A National Retail Federation survey found Houston is among the top cities affected by organized retail crime. A problem state leaders say is increasing in intensity. If this happens more and more, maybe the merchants recalls the storm and you have no where to shop. Joyce Pb from Rice University’s Baker Institute is part of a statewide task force now working to combat the problem in Texas. She says the pandemic made people more comfortable shopping online. So capture this Allen men and they realize, well, if I remain anonymous >> lie maybe people were not asked me for my identity and I can be don’t really ask. Remember 2000 come from, investigators say many of the stolen sense and up on Facebook marketplace unless police like they did in Montgomery County in may. >> Deputies chased Bath and body works. Theft suspects
before they crashed into the before they crashed into the median. It’s real that issue. >> We asked Bath and body works. How this problem is affecting their stores in our area. But tonight we have not heard back. And tonight, 3 of the suspects in this alleged theft ring are being held in jail without bond. But 2 of the suspects, Monique Hudson, and when I got some got let out on bond tonight, they are wanted again, anyone with any information about these wanted
