Software links Chicago cargo thefts to resale shops

Retail theft intelligence software is connecting isolated cargo thefts across the United States to specific resale businesses in Chicago. The system allows investigators to track stolen merchandise from freight containers to stores, state lines, and international borders.

Raul Aguilar is the head of law enforcement partnerships for North America at Auror, a retail crime intelligence company. He stated that offenders often commit multiple crimes in different locations. "We’ve seen offenders that can have 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 events across the country," Aguilar said.

The platform collects data from participating retailers after thefts occur. Reports include details on stolen items, descriptions of suspects, vehicles used, and whether weapons were involved. Analytics within the software identify potential links between incidents at different stores. This data helps law enforcement recognize patterns that might otherwise remain in separate reports.

Aguilar noted that delays in sharing information between agencies can hinder investigations. "And unfortunately, there’s silos in law enforcement and that information does not pass in an expeditious manner," he said. While the software provides leads, police still must gather evidence to prove criminal conduct and confirm connections between cases.

A previous report by FOX Chicago detailed how retailer information helped launch an investigation into Future Fashion on West 47th Street in the Brighton Park neighborhood. An investigator told FOX Chicago that Victoria’s Secret contacted them about unreleased products appearing in the store. "Victoria’s Secret reached out to me and said, we see a lot of our products that’s inside of the store that haven’t even been released yet," the investigator said.

Investigators used an undercover officer to sell items claimed to be stolen to the business. Another officer later purchased the goods back. During a search of the store, retail representatives helped examine the merchandise. Investigators noted that stolen items could be mixed with legitimate purchases, requiring them to trace the origin of individual products. The owner stated he had records from people who sold him the merchandise.

The owner and an employee were charged with theft of more than $10,000 and continuing a financial crime enterprise. Both are presumed innocent. The interviews for this report do not establish that Auror was used to develop the Future Fashion case specifically.

Aguilar, who previously led a national initiative for Homeland Security Investigations, explained that cargo theft involves both opportunistic break-ins and coordinated efforts. Some thieves take whatever is in a container, while others use cyber-enabled fraud or insider information to target valuable loads. Stolen goods often travel overseas, generating money for larger criminal networks.

"Hundreds of thousands of dollars of iPhones are being stolen across the country and then shipped overseas, which then fuels that transnational criminal network into other potential drug, weapon violations, etc., etc.," Aguilar said. His comments describe general criminal activity and do not establish those specific connections in the Future Fashion case.

When asked about safeguards for innocent people, Aguilar emphasized that Auror is a software provider, not a camera company. Retailers document information after thefts, threatening behavior, or assaults. They own their data and decide whether to share it with law enforcement. These records help investigators examine who took the merchandise, who bought it, and where the money went. A sheriff's official previously noted that the suspects they are tracking have "tentacles everywhere."