VOA常速英语2008年-Authorities in Florida Announce Breakup of Shop

By Mil Arcega
Washington
06 February 2008
 

Authorities in the state of Florida say they have broken up a major theft ring that may be responsible for stealing millions of dollars in merchandise that was later sold on the Internet. Investigators¹ in Polk County, Florida say 18 people are under arrest -- and more may be involved in what was allegedly one of the biggest shoplifting schemes in recent memory. VOA's Mil Arcega reports.

Florida officials say the two women in a store surveillance video only look like innocent shoppers. In fact, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says the women were part of one of the most sophisticated shoplifting and reselling rings in the country. "We estimate that they have stolen someplace between $60 and $100 million worth of products."

Investigators say at least 18 people were involved in a five-year scheme that targeted Florida convenience stores.

Judd says all were related to each other in some way -- with members operating in teams of lookouts³ and grabbers [shoplifters] that could hit as many as eight stores in one day. "In less than three minutes they could walk out with $4,000 -- $4,500 worth of merchandise."

But it was not until authorities discovered a warehouse⁴ that they say they realized the size of the alleged² theft ring. Inside were thousands of items -- from health and beauty aids to over the counter drugs.

Michelle Schaeffer was stunned⁵ to learn a major theft ring was operating in her neighborhood. She said, "That's just incredible. You would think you would see people coming and going but you don't."

Investigators say the stolen goods were sold on Internet websites and on E-Bay, sometimes with free shipping⁶.

"This is not little Johnny stealing a pack of bubble gum or a woman stealing a single shirt. These groups are very organized and very sophisticated and they're stealing merchandise and reselling it to make money," says Joseph Larocca, who is a loss prevention expert for the National Retailers⁷ Federation⁸.

Larocca says the Internet has created a worldwide marketplace for criminals. In the past, Larocca says money from similar operations has been used to fund street gangs and in some cases, terror cells in the Middle East.

1 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

3 lookouts   

n.寻找（ 某人/某物）( lookout的名词复数 )；是某人（自己）的问题；警戒；瞭望台

参考例句：

• Lookouts were spotted all along the coast. 沿海岸都布置了监视哨。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Lookouts and leadsmen in bulky life jackets stumbled and slipped after him. 监视哨和测深员穿着饱鼓鼓的救生衣，跌跌撞撞地跟在他后面。 来自辞典例句

4 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

5 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。

6 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

7 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

8 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。