An undercover police operation in North Carolina known as “Operation Naughty List” resulted in 78 arrests after weeks of targeted enforcement at major retail stores.
According to a press release shared by the Gastonia Police Department (GPD) on Facebook on Monday, Dec. 29, officers conducted the operation between Nov. 28 and Dec. 19, 2025. The effort focused on high-theft retail locations across the city of Gastonia, including Target and Walmart stores.
The operation led to 154 total charges against 78 individuals. Authorities said the offenses ranged from misdemeanor and felony larceny to possession of controlled substances such as cocaine, trespassing, and arrests tied to outstanding warrants.
Police also reported recovering or preventing the theft of $4,342.85 worth of retail merchandise. One incident alone involved an attempted theft of $735 and required officers to deactivate anti-theft devices.
The undercover initiative involved officers from the department’s Street Crimes Unit dressing in plain clothes and blending in with shoppers. While inside stores, they worked closely with retail loss-prevention teams to identify suspects and intervene in real time.
Video footage released by GPD shows plainclothes officers posing as customers while browsing store aisles, allowing them to monitor suspicious activity without drawing attention.
Officials said the operation was designed not only to stop theft as it happened but also to identify and apprehend repeat offenders. The Gastonia Police Department did not provide additional comment beyond the information released publicly.
