Liberty police bust shoplifting ring, recover stolen merchandise and drugs

LIBERTY, Mo. (KCTV) - A new effort in Liberty is paying off as police step up the fight to stop crime and improve safety.

Last month the department said they planned to start ‘Operation No, No, No.’

The plan was to step up patrols in an effort to deter theft. The police chief said when crimes do happen the extra patrols mean there would be officers available to respond quickly.

That’s exactly what investigators said happened Wednesday evening.

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Officers responded to a suspected shoplifting seconds after it was reported at the Liberty Commons shopping center, according to the department. The quick response allowed officers to arrest one suspect at the store. A second person was arrested a short time later.

When officers searched the suspects’ vehicle, they reportedly found electronics, shoes, tools, personal care items, and all kinds of other items allegedly shoplifted from businesses across the metro.

The department said officers recovered about $280 worth of shoes stolen from a store in the shopping center.

The two suspects remain in custody as prosecutors work to file charges in the case.

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According to the department, there has been an increase in organized theft, shoplifting and car break-ins in the last two to three years. The police chief said those crimes started to decline because of the police patrols.