Dozens of shoppers were arrested after a weeks-long undercover police operation targeting retail theft at Walmart and Target stores.
The investigation, known as Operation Naughty List, resulted in 78 suspected shoplifters being taken into custody after plainclothes officers blended in with regular customers to catch thefts as they happened.
The operation was carried out in Gaston County, North Carolina, between November 28 and December 19, according to a police press release shared on Facebook.
By posing as everyday shoppers, officers were able to identify and stop suspects in real time. Over the course of the nearly month-long operation, authorities issued a total of 154 charges.
Those charges extended beyond shoplifting and included misdemeanor and felony larceny, possession of controlled substances, trespassing, and arrests tied to outstanding warrants.
Police reported that the operation helped recover or prevent the theft of $4,342.85 worth of merchandise. One individual alone was charged with felony larceny involving $735 in stolen goods.
During the arrests, officers also seized illegal drugs, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
In a statement, the Gastonia Police Department said it remains committed to protecting the community and working alongside local businesses, particularly during the busy holiday season.
The crackdown comes amid growing concerns over retail crime nationwide. According to a report from the National Retail Federation, 83% of retailers reported an increase in violence at their stores. In 2024, retail shrinkage—including theft—cost U.S. businesses an estimated $45 billion, significantly impacting profitability and long-term viability.
To counter rising losses, many retailers have increased security measures. Some stores are closely monitoring self-checkout lanes, while others have reduced or eliminated self-checkout options altogether. Frequently stolen items are increasingly being locked behind displays, and security presence has been expanded in certain locations.
How Self-Checkout Is Changing
Retailers are also rethinking self-checkout systems to reduce theft while keeping checkout lines moving.
At Walmart, some locations have restricted self-checkout access to Walmart+ members, while others have limited self-checkout availability during certain hours and added more staffed registers. Although some shoppers suspected these changes were driven by theft concerns, a Walmart spokesperson said store managers are testing different approaches to improve checkout efficiency.
One experimental RFID-powered self-checkout system designed to eliminate receipt checks was briefly tested but has since been discontinued.
Target has also introduced new limitations. The retailer rolled out express self-checkout lanes with a 10-item limit in 200 stores last fall. By March 2024, that policy expanded to approximately 2,000 stores nationwide.
In some Walmart locations, customers have also reported item limits of 15 or fewer for self-checkout use, reflecting a broader industry shift toward balancing convenience with loss prevention.
