Operation Makeup Breakup

The Phoenix Police Department recently made multiple arrests and recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen property in an organized retail theft investigation, Operation Makeup Breakup.

On Thursday, April 18, 2024, the Department and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office provided statements to the public as well as video surveillance, body worn camera footage, and photographs highlighting the investigation and what was seized after executing multiple search warrants.

The six-month long investigation looked into an organized cosmetic retail fence; a fence being the individual or group who are purchasing stolen goods and reselling for a profit.

As a result of the investigation, three women were arrested and detectives were able to recover over 20,000 items, valued at over $560,000.

The fence was operating three "stores" out of homes in the Phoenix and Tonopah area. Rooms in these homes had been converted into the store fronts that people were invited in to purchase the cosmetics. These stores were not the only way the items were being sold, they were also being sold online and shipped, in some cases in bulk to other states and countries.

Over the course of the investigation, detectives learned that this fence had been operating for five years.

The fence purchased the stolen cosmetics from various boosters, individuals who steal or shoplift the goods to sell. Boosters are known to have a "shopping list" of items they know a fence will pay them for.

The suspects in this case are facing charges of Illegal Control of an Enterprise and Trafficking in Stolen Property.

"My hope is that this sends a strong message that we are committed to investigating and arresting individuals of all crimes, and theft of this magnitude will not be tolerated," said Interim Police Chief Michael Sullivan.

These crimes are taken seriously by the department and the County Attorney's Office.

"We need to pay particular attention to this kind of crime - especially when it's at this scale - because it affects everyone's bottom line," said County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. "Retailers have to offset their losses which can mean those of us who are law-abiding citizens pay higher prices."

This is still an open investigation and details available for release are limited.

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