Organized theft ring that targeted Macy's charged in New York

A beauty store in New York, just steps from the Empire State Building, sold more than $1 million worth of stolen goods Macy's and a whole host of other retailers, authorities said Wednesday.

Two New Yorkers were accused of possessing more than $1 million in stolen goods and reselling them through their company, Rehana's Cosmetics, a perfume and cosmetics store in Midtown Manhattan, borough District Attorney Alvin Bragg said at a news conference.

About $212,000 of the merchandise was stolen from Macy's, with the remainder sourced CFSRite aid, Shore vegetables and Duane Reade, owned by Walgreens, Ulta, Victoria's secret, Bath and body works and the NHL Shop, Bragg said.

“Through our investigation, we learned that Rehana's Cosmetics was well known to shoplifters, who were eager to bring them stolen items,” Bragg said. “We contend that this created a motive for shoplifters to steal, and thus, we allege, the defendants were the instigators of the crime.”

Rehana's Cosmetics, Bragg alleged, claimed to be a “beauty and perfume store” but was instead found to have hundreds of boxes filled with products not normally found in such stores, including designer wallets, over-the-counter medications, kitchenware and more. He said the defendants obtained the stolen items from shoplifters with the intention of reselling them.

“The root cause we're citing here is greed,” Bragg said. “They did this to make money. This is the motive that is as old as time.”

Costs come as retailers want Goal and Ulta increasingly cite theft as a growing problem in their stores. In March, a months-long investigation by CNBC revealed how police broke up an organized retail crime ring that stole millions in cosmetics from Ulta stores and resold them on the Internet. Amazon.

While Bragg could not provide a specific figure when asked how many stores are believed to be engaging in similar activities, he noted that there have been “far too many attacks” on employees in stores that have experienced theft.

“By using a multi-pronged prosecution strategy, we can make a lasting dent in shoplifting, keeping our store associates safe, removing the incentives to steal and resell stolen goods and allowing our retail industry to thrive,” he said.

In a statement to CNBC, a spokesperson for Macy's said, “We appreciate the work of law enforcement and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and leave all comment on the matter to them.”

A CVS spokesperson said the drugstore is “grateful” for the work of the Manhattan district attorney's office.

“Our partnerships with law enforcement are integral to our efforts to prevent organized retail crime (ORC) organizations from stealing stolen goods and then selling them online. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the Attorney General's Office as we work to combat ORC throughout New York City,” the spokesperson said.

A Walgreens spokesperson told CNBC earlier this year that the chain is taking steps to “safely deter theft” and “provide the best patient and customer experience.”

The other retailers who allegedly stole merchandise included in the bust did not immediately return CNBC's request for comment.