Published on July 30, 2024
ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (July 30, 2024) – A multi-agency investigation into an organized retail theft operation resulted in two local arrests and an ongoing investigation. Oro Valley Police Department (OVPD) was notified in October 2023 of a local man who was selling stolen merchandise to a company based in Connecticut. The stolen goods had been obtained through retail thefts.
The investigation was conducted by OVPD, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the US Postal Inspectors in conjunction with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. These agencies worked in partnership with some of the involved retailers to gather evidence of the operation believed to have been occurring for over three years. The suspect, Nicholas Miller and other co-conspirators are suspected of stealing over 2.3 million dollars’ worth of merchandise from various retailers in Oro Valley and in Pima, Pinal and Maricopa Counties. Miller allegedly sold the stolen merchandise to a retailer based in Connecticut. Miller is suspected of making over $475,000 in profit as a result of the operation.
On July 24th, a search warrant was served on two residences, a storage unit, and three vehicles. Additional search warrants were served in Connecticut. As a result of the search warrants, over $9,000 worth of stolen merchandise was recovered along with tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of collectible items. Miller and a suspected co-conspirator Allison Hunt were both booked into Pima County Adult Detention Center.
Said OVPD Chief Kara Riley, “Retail theft affects all of our communities, and the businesses within those communities. We appreciate the partnerships we have with other agencies that help reduce those thefts and hold those committing them accountable.”
The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are expected.