Retail Theft Ringleader Arrested In Pajamas Outside Foothills Mansion: Reports

BONSALL, CA — A woman made millions as the ringleader of a massive retail theft operation, selling stolen goods at a discounted price on Amazon from her mansion in the San Diego foothills, according to reports.

Michelle Mack was taken into custody in December while wearing a pink lounge set and fuzzy slippers as her teen daughters looked on outside the family’s 4,500-square-foot home, CNBC reported this week.

Authorities discovered shelves of beauty and fashion items in her garage, along with hundreds of envelopes waiting to be shipped, the outlet reported, noting the theft operation spanned 12 states.

Attorney General Rob Bonta announced 140 counts last month against Mack and eight other affiliates of the crime ring, which Bonta said affected 21 counties in California and involved more than $7.8 million in products. The charges included organized retail theft, conspiracy, receipt of stolen property and multiple counts of grand theft, according to Bonta.

The defendants have pleaded not guilty and did not respond to requests for comment from CNBC, the outlet reported.

Mack recruited young women to enter makeup stores and steal high-demand items in bulk, employing more than seven people for the thefts, according to Bonta, who said law enforcement worked with officials from Ulta Beauty and Sephora to investigate the case. Mack lived in Bonsall with Kenneth Mack, who is among those charged, according to NBC 7 San Diego.

Other targeted retailers included Bloomingdale’s, Prada, Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret, CNBC reported.

“The rise in organized retail crime affects all retailers, consumers, and communities, and we believe it’s important to take action to deter the criminals perpetuating this problem,” Dan Petrousek, senior vice president of loss prevention at Ulta, said in a news release.

“Not only does organized retail crime jeopardize the safety of our store associates and guests, but it also results in potentially unsafe or damaged products being resold online to consumers under false pretenses.”