The investigation started when the cops noticed a trend at places like CVS and Walgreens, says Wilmington Police Lieutenant Michael Hall, who spoke with CBS 3.
"We've seen an uptick in shoplifting complaints, and it seems like the shoppers were targeting specific items that we recovered," Hall said. "Mostly soaps, body wash and shampoos."
Hall says the shoplifters then sold the stolen goods to five mini markets in Wilmington for a dollar each. Police say those smaller stores would then sell the stolen goods at a much higher price. As police investigated, the evidence could be seen right on the shelves.
"Most of the [stores] like Walgreens or CVS, they put their own tag on these items, and if you walk into a local store and you see a Walgreens or CVS tag on that item that you’re about ready to purchase, you know it’s probably stolen," Hall said.
At this point in the investigation, police aren’t saying for sure if the mini markets collaborated with each other or not.
The five stores are shut down. Police say when the city's Licenses and Inspections Department went into the stores, they also found electrical and plumbing violations or missing licenses and certifications.